Since moving to Williamsburg last August, Yorktown Beach has been a favorite family destination. We have exposed family and friends to the shops, dining experiences and beaches available only twenty minutes from my front door. With inlets roped off for children to swim and wade around in, it's the perfect family spot on a hot day.
Last week as the kids moped around the house exclaiming how bored they were, my ears had finally had enough. We packed our bags, grabbed the beach chairs and the sand buckets for an afternoon of fun only to be met with a beach infested by jellyfish. The children braved the waters only to be met by stinging tentacles and cries of pain. Within a matter of moments, our fun day trip was met with pain and a pleading to go home.
It's time Yorktown invests money on purchasing nets designed to keep jellyfish out of the swimming areas. If people and families come to the beach for a day of fun but wind up in the emergency room from jellyfish stings, this beach will no longer be thought of as a destination spot to cool off on hot days. The businesses that have invested money at the Yorktown Riverwalk Landing will see a decrease in traffic if these nets are not purchased for the safety of the tourists and locals alike. Instead of coming for the day to participate in Yorktown's rich history and beauty, residents and tourists may begin to see Jamestown Beach as a less painful option.
Jellyfish invasions are not on the the decrease but on the increase and it's time to make bold actions now, not later.
