It’s only natural for the village of Lakewood to discuss revitalizing the waterfront at Richard O. Hartley Park after the relative success of the village of Celoron’s work to revitalize its Chautauqua Lake waterfront.

The addition of a new playground at the park brings attention to the lack of investment in other parts of the beach, in particular the waterfront and bath house. A study paid for with a $30,000 Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth grant will help pay for a study to revitalize the area.

It really isn’t hard to see improvements to the park paying off for Lakewood residents and the visitors who flock to the village in the summer. Improving the waterfront area could make it easier for families to make a day of it at both Hartley Park and Chautauqua Avenue in Lakewood.

There was a time when public beaches were plentiful on Chautauqua Lake. That’s changed over the past several years. But Lakewood and Mayville still have nice beaches with roped off swimming areas perfect for families with young children. They are a throwback to the halcyon days of families spending days in lakefront towns and villages. Lakewood offers swimming lessons at the village beach – but some parents were scared away when harmful algal blooms closed the beach at Hartley Park.

The state of the lake has to be taken into consideration as Lakewood Village Board members, consultants and residents consider improvements to Richard O. Hartley Park. Obviously, Lakewood doesn’t control algal blooms, nor can it eliminate algal blooms on its own. But if the public’s preferred improvements to Richard O. Hartley Park hinge on increasing use of the lake, then the lake’s health has to be taken into account.

We don’t doubt that public access will be taken into consideration. We hope, though, ensuring Chautauqua Lake is a place the public wants to come to is a consideration.