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Barred from the Point
updated: Jul 15, 2012, 6:53 PM

By Edhat Subscriber

Do Edhatters know why the city has placed an iron bar fence around the MacGillivary lookout point in Shoreline Park?
I know it was closed because of concerns of collapse but the rest of the park is also vulnerable and it has a chain link fence.

Comments in order of when they were received | (reverse order)

COMMENT 297922	2012-07-15 08:47 PM
Because a young couple recently fell to their deaths. One of the families is disputing whether the two were intoxicated despite witnesses (friends in fact) stating they were. Now the City is freaked out about being sued.
COMMENT 297925	2012-07-15 09:39 PM
The couple that fell were in their 50s and did not die. They hopped the fence at the east end of the park - not at Mac Gillivary point. For more info on the fall check out http://www.edhat.com/site/tidbit.cfm?nid=93599 This still doesn't explain why only one tiny section of the park has an expensive iron bar fence.
COMMENT 297926P	2012-07-15 11:35 PM
925, The info that they were in their 50s was initially falsely reported, they were two 23-year-olds. See here: http://www.independent.com/news/2012/jul/02/two-critical-condition-after-fall-shoreline-park-c/
COMMENT 297934	2012-07-16 06:51 AM
It's NOT the city's fault that these drunken dopes climbed the fence and then fell! I hope that case is quickly dismissed because that is completely ridiculous! They were out at the bars then went out there after drinking and they fell. It is sad and all of that but it was preventable and totally their mistake, the area is fenced off, they knew it wasn't okay to sit on the cliff.
COMMENT 297938P	2012-07-16 07:00 AM
The barrier at MacGillivray Point has been there for months/years. There's no explanation but I have guessed that the cliff underneath the point has been weakened, perhaps by ordinary weathering or perhaps by weathering aggravated by actions of ground squirrels that do tunnel and weaken the edges of the park. Why not call the Parks Department and ask (and share here)? It's about a quarter of a mile from where the couple fell.
FLICKA	2012-07-16 07:45 AM
I wonder why drunks feel entitled to blame someone or something else for their actions. Would like a follow-up to this orginal question of the fence; if anyone finds the answer, please share.
COMMENT 297951	2012-07-16 07:50 AM
Better get those fence crews up to the hiking trails, I know of several spots along Tunnel trail where it is possible to fall and get hurt. If our local government starts accepting responsibility for natural hazards then they will indeed become liable for each and every one.
COMMENT 297954P	2012-07-16 08:01 AM
I suggest the City put up a fence around the lower State St bar district, and not let people exit until they are sober.
COMMENT 297974	2012-07-16 08:51 AM
The MacGillivary barrier has been there for years. At one point, a young woman fell/jumped off there. I believe it was a fatality. The City obviously does not want a repeat.
COMMENT 297984	2012-07-16 09:16 AM
MacGillivary lookout has been closed since 2009. During the heavy rains of that year there was some cliff erosion that caused the slide further east (towards the harbor) that took out the walkway (next to bathrooms) that is now being (finallly) reconstructed. In 2010 the city hired a geologist to survey the area. He determined that yes, the point could slide IF there was enough weakness to make it slide. I'm not kidding. The city paid $100k+ to get a guy to say that yes something could happen if. Meanwhile, the city continued to pay for rental fencing for 3 years to keep everything fenced off. I think they are still renting the fence and there is no real reason that the point cannot be reopened. Incompetent waste of tax dollars.
COMMENT 297994	2012-07-16 09:33 AM
@984, I am with you on this one. I live directly across the street from the lookout, and for a time I was out there taking measurements to see if there was ANY incremental increase in the size of the cracks in the stone wall which prompted this mess. Of course, there were none. There have since been Town Hall meetings where this was discussed at length, City Council and Parks & Rec won't even consider re-opening it. But they WILL consider spending tens of thousands more to "re-locate" the lookout, i.e. construct a new one that sits a whopping 17 feet back, leave the existing unusable lookout there (because the Coastal Commission wont let them demolish it--it has to collapse naturally), and install new benches behind it. Talk about your tax dollars at work--this City has the fear of liability so far out of whack it's a wonder we're even allowed to walk down the street. Space debris might land on us and we could sue them for not building a roof over it. -MJ
MTNDRIVER	2012-07-16 10:08 AM
Sadly, the fear of liability is pretty widespread, extends far beyond local governments. But it's so expensive to defend lawsuits, I understand it completely. What we need is to reform the laws that govern civil liability. When people choose to do clearly dangerous things, they should know they are choosing to bear the consequences as well. When we visited New Zealand a few years ago, we were amazed at the lack of safety railings and other barriers in physically dangerous places. Friends there explained it's because people are liable for their own behavior. So refreshing! I remember some years ago, during a big El Niño year when there was bad flooding in Sycamore Canyon, someone in a jeep or other 4WD SUV-type vehicle drove around a barrier and tried to cross Sycamore Creek at the flooded bridge where Stanwood and Sycamore Canyon Rd. intersect. The vehicle was carried away down the creek, the driver escaped--but he sued the city because he was not physically prevented from driving through the floodwaters. There was a barrier, he drove around it, he sued. If people act like that, who can blame the city for treating us all like children?
HAYWARD'S	2012-07-16 03:18 PM
I have spent some very happy moments with my wife sitting on the benches at MacGillvary Point. I miss them both!
COMMENT 298229	2012-07-16 06:27 PM
974-she was pushed off the cliff and the monster who did it got away with murder - I miss her every single day. I certainly know that this is not the forum for my comment. I can only hope karma functions as it should.
COMMENT 298256P	2012-07-16 09:28 PM
The current fence is brand new. It is NOT the temporary looking chain link that some of you are thinking of. This is an expensive, custom made, serious looking barrier made of welded iron bars. I think it went up the past week or so (994 do you know when it went up?). As of Sunday, July 15 it seemed like it was waitng a coat of paint. It seems like a ridicuous waste of money.
SHORELINER	2012-07-16 09:37 PM
229 - My profound sympathies. I am sorry this issue has stirred up memories of a horrific tragedy.

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