Community Corner
U.S. Open Sandcastle Competition Back on This Summer, but Security Costs May Double
Sponsors have stepped forward to ensure the U.S. Open Sandcastle Competition will go forward as planned this July, but costs to keep the peace may double.
The U.S. Open Sandcastle Competition will go forward as planned July 22-24, said U.S. Open Sandcastle Committee media representative Julia Simms.
Contracts are being worked out and negotiated with a variety of sponsors, including chicken company Foster Farms.
Last month, following the elimination of grants that paid for about $45,000 in sheriff's security costs in past years.
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The cost may double this year to $90,000. A final deal is still being negotiated.
Captain David Myers, who runs the Imperial Beach Sheriff's Department station, said he cannot discuss specifics, such as if more deputies are needed to keep the peace this year, but said in an email that an event that attracts 400,000 people is a "safety challenge."
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"Historically, the sandcastle event in Imperial beach is and has been one of the safest public venues for the time sandcastle events have been held. And we plan on continuing that track record," Myers said in an email.
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