"Leave No Trace" To Hit Panama City This Sunday
By: Stephen Crews
Updated: July 5, 2012
The "Leave No Trace" ordinance will be enforced starting this Sunday in Panama City Beach. As you may remember, it was enacted last month by both the city and county governments, in an effort to keep the beaches clean.
The Tourist Development Council has the large task of getting the message to beachgoers.
They are starting a big campaign to spread a message about your tents, chairs, and umbrellas: remove it or loose it.
It can be trickier than it looks to pitch one of those tailgate style tents and even harder to take it down.
However, starting Sunday, if you leave it up after nine, you might not find it in the morning due to the new "leave no trace" ordinance on the beach.
"I mean, if you don't know (about the ordinance), that's just terrible. You show up in the morning and it's gone," said beachgoer Alan Busler.
Busler and friends traveled from Alabama and knew nothing of the new ordinance until News 13 made him aware.
He says he can sympathize with people who leave things like tents, chairs and umbrellas on the beach over night.
"I mean, I can definitely understand why they do it. We just walked a half mile down the beach to find an empty spot," said Busler.
But he says he doesn't want to risk his stuff getting thrown away.
"As long as the city does their part to keep the people informed, then it's their own fault," said Busler.
TDC Marketing Director, Susan Estler and the TDC have worked tirelessly to spread the message about the ordinance.
"We definitely wanted to make sure we used as many vehicles as we had already in place to use," said Estler.
Handouts along with metal signs will make an appearance along the beach. You'll also find digital billboards making a bold statement, along with colorful window clings, TV and radio spots.
"We're trying to canvas the beach as well as we possibly can," said Estler.
If you're not quite convinced yet, certain officials say look at it another way. For instance, tailgate tents can sell at certain retailers for $280 dollars. Some say that's a lot of money to be throwing away when the sun goes down.
For more information about the Leave No Trace Ordinance, visit:
http://www.visitpanamacitybeach.org/leave-no-trace/
