" I first visited this area in August of 1981. It was hot and while we were here for my first look at Wells, we stopped by Emerson Park to go swimming. I remember it was all rocks, and I walked and walked and walked -- and it never got as deep as my knees, even though I was many yards from shore. It was hopeless for swimming, though I appreciated being able to dip my feet and cool off.

Though I have been back to the park, and my kids loved the rocket slide (even though the younger son has embarrassing memories of tearing his pants wide open on a nail on the slide shortly before it was shut down), I have never been back in the water. I guess I figured it wasn't worth the effort since I couldn't swim anyway. "

" I too lived in Auburn 40+ years ago. While in the area last week, I had the same bad experience at Emerson Park. As a teenager, I remember that we spread our towels on the grass in the area near the pier going out to the pump house. The lake bottom was mostly sandy and access to the water was easy. Now it seems that they are trying to discourage using this area for swimming. I agree that the park is pretty, but where do Auburnians who don't own lake property swim now? It was a nice day but the place was deserted. FYI, we left and went to Cayuga Lake. What a shame.... "

" I agree, the park is absolutely beautiful. I do miss the rocketship playground, but time marches on and things wear out. and I too, also recall the water's edge always being rather rocky. I can't say that I've encountered a beach that is only soft sand. "

" I have no idea what it was like in the good old days as I am new to the area, but the park is wonderful in my opinion. Not every community is so lucky. "

" As I recall, you always had to survive the rocks to get to the sand. Most enjoyable swimming I had was in the "ice box" and the channel. How about pulling a party boat up to the dock and going to Jitch's for a hot dog and beer? Arty's and White Bridge drive in? "

" That Beach has always been rocky for the first ten or fifeteen feet. People's remebrancves of the "Good Old Days" are always warm and fuzzy, or at least fuzzy. "