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*       ACTION ALERT - NATURIST ACTION COMMITTEE          *
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* Bob Morton, NAC chair/Exec Dir:       ctnudists@aol.com *
* Charles Harris, NAC Bd Member:        harrisnat@aol.com *
* Scootch Pankonin, Gov't Affairs:      scootchdc@aol.com *
* Dennis Kirkpatrick, Online Rep:            nat@tiac.net *
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DATE: September 2, 1999

STATE: California

SUBJECT: GRAY WHALE COVE

NAC URGES YOU TO WRITE IN SUPPORT 
OF CONTINUED CLOTHING-OPTIONAL STATUS

California Naturists:

The public meeting on August 31, 1999, went well. All the attendees were 
supportive of continued clothing-optional status of Gray Whale Cove. There 
was no opposition. 

The California Department of Parks and Recreation will continue to accept 
written ideas and suggestions for Gray Whale Cove until September 10, 1999. 
Please write in support of continued clothing-optional status for this 
wonderful beach. Letters from California residents are encouraged, as well as 
letters from supporters living outside of California.

Please make the following points in your letter or fax:  

  - GWC has been a clothing-optional site for more than 30 years and must 
remain a clothing-optional site. Many other state beaches exist in the 
immediate area for textile sunbathers - in the 19-mile stretch from Pacifica 
to Half Moon Bay, there are 3 clothing-mandatory state beaches, all near 
amenities such as snack bars, restaurants and shopping.

  - GWC should be listed as a clothing-optional site in official CDPR 
publications and should be clearly posted at the entrance as 
clothing-optional to avoid confusion and misunderstanding on the part of 
visitors.

  - Adequate parking facilities should be provided and safety precautions, 
such as a pedestrian crossing and warning signs on the highway, put in place 
for the users of Gray Whale Cove.

  - GWC has been operated successfully by the current concessionaire for 18 
years. The concessionaire has provided, for a reasonable entrance fee, a 
level of amenities that is harmonious with the wild and scenic character of 
the beach and the surrounding terrain. Too many amenities would spoil the 
natural setting and potentially attract too large a crowd for such a small 
beach with limited parking and difficult access on a narrow and dangerous 
stretch of Highway 1.

  - Weather and surf conditions at GWC, particularly during the winter 
months, are such that requiring a concessionaire to keep it open 365 days a 
year is unrealistic as well as dangerous for visitors during adverse weather 
conditions. Allowances must be made for this.

Please send your comments in writing to:

California State Parks
Bay Area District
250 Executive Park Blvd., Suite 4900
San Francisco, CA 94134-3306
Fax 415-330-6312

This will be our last chance to advocate continued clothing optional status 
for Gray Whale Cove before the formal bid package is issued.  Please take 
advantage of it.

Charles Harris
Naturist Action Committee