For the last 50 years, fire rings could be found on every court and cross street in Mission Beach and on Mission Bay. However, in the last two years, fire rings now number fewer than 100 from an original 400. Not only have they decreased in total number, they are largely gone from the residential areas altogether, with residents having to drive to park areas or parking lots to enjoy sitting around a beach fire.
The disappearance is just one more casualty of the city’s bleak financial situation, according to Michael Behan, deputy Park and Recreation director for San Diego.
Behan, whose responsibility it is to oversee Mission Beach and Bay, said money for fire rings is not on his budget.
“The City Council cut the budget last year by 50 percent for this program,” Behan said. “We went from 300 to 150 [fire rings] on the ocean front and in Mission Bay Park. It was a permanent decrease from the budget. They cut the staff that provided the service that empties the fire rings and the money to purchase them.”
from sdnews.com
