The Memorial Day weekend and the following weekend turned out to be lackluster beach days - marred by high winds and rain.
For the Concerned Citizens for the Rockaways, such weather was a double hex.
The group has launched a petition drive to get better services at Jacob Riis Park.
Group leader Floyd Smith and his fellow members got more cooperative weather recently as they canvassed the Gateway National Recreation Area beaches. The group has gathered more than 400 signatures.
Not enough lifeguards, threats of a parking fee increase and the need for better restroom service are just some of the things Smith said need to be addressed.
"I have been fighting these issue for four years. Eventually someone might listen up and do something," Smith said.
Despite the slow start to the petition drive, Smith was upbeat.
"For each signature we got, there were 10 people complaining and agreeing with us," he said. "There is a New York attitude of 'We don't sign anything' and also many immigrants, legal and illegal, don't want to put their name on such petitions."
On June 7 and 8 alone - during the heat wave - the group collected 307 signatures.
"Over 300 people agreeing with us on one weekend is not bad," Smith said.
Many of the beachgoers also complained about the food concessions, he said. "Limited hours, limited selection and really lousy food," Smith said.
Beachgoers also expressed concerns about a potential parking fee hike from $5 to $10. "It won't come this year, but look out for it next year," he warned.
Smith said the bathrooms have been a chronic problem.
"They open late and close early," he said.
"When you run into those kind of things, people get frustrated, especially when they have kids," Smith said.
Gateway officials said improvements are coming.
"The public will see some significant changes this season, including an expanded lifeguard corps that will guard a much larger section of the beach, and more maintenance personnel who will keep the restrooms open longer hours and clean them throughout the day," said Brian Feeney, a spokesman for Gateway.
