Landmark swing in Cayucos will be torn down

Posted: Nov 23, 2009 5:48 PM by Stacy Daniel
Updated: Nov 23, 2009 5:48 PM

The swing set, near the Cayucos pier, could soon be a thing of the past.
Officials with the San Luis Obispo County Parks and Rec. Department say the swing is not safe.
It's located too close to the ocean, especially when the tide is high and because of that, they say, it's a liability.
On the other side, people say, it's a local landmark.
One community organization says it will raise money to repair the swing.
They say the swing attracts families as well as tourist to the area.
One Cayucos woman hopes she can save the swing set from what seems like a certain demise.
The swing set near the pier in Cayucos is pretty much a landmark, having been here for more than 30 years.
It's old and rusted and in definite need of repair but, county officials say, repairing the old swing set is not an option.
It's a liability and must be torn down.
San Luis Obispo County Parks Superintendent, Denis Philbin says, "We have to remove the swing set because the structure is compromised."
But, there are two sides to this story.
Cayucos resident, Gretchen Ross is on a mission to save the swing set.
She says she's willing to do whatever it takes to make sure it's here for future generations.
Ross adds, "One of the simple pleasures in life, for anyone be it young or old is going to the beach and being able to swing out. Swing high above the ocean and just imagine that you're flying and to have that taken away from us because of repairs that are needed and because they are inconveniently located just seems wrong."
Philbin says, it's not a matter of right or wrong. It's a matter of safety.
He adds, "Right now it's just a matter of time. It is a very big safety issue, liability issue for the county of San Luis Obispo."
But, Ross is not giving up.
" We're going to fight this. These swings are important to us. They're important to our kids in this town and they're important to the tourists who come to town." says, Ross.
The county says, the bottom line is that the swing is unsafe and they will be removed.
The county wouldn't say exactly when the swing set will be removed.