Two weeks after 10 On Your Side’s initial report involving a dispute over a tiny public beach on Gwynn’s Island, other residents are sharing a different perspective.
The public access at the end of a state road is just 30 feet wide, and plat maps show that it widens to 75 feet at the waterline. The beach faces eastward into the Chesapeake Bay, and is bounded on both sides by private property.
One of those property owners, Mark Eubank, told WAVY two weeks ago about problems with trespassing onto his private beach, trash, vandalism, drug usage and public urination.
That report caused an uproar among people who live in the island’s interior and use the public beach.
Debbie Bohn and her family have owned property there for decades, just like the Eubank family. But she says she and the islanders she knows are not the ones causing the problems.
When we got out of our news truck at the beach, to interview Bohn and some other residents from the island’s interior, a group of beachfront owners got into a heated exchange with them.
“You stood on that porch and screamed at my grandkids!” Bohn said to waterfront owner Candy Eubank. “You know how I know that was inaccurate?” Eubank responded. “I don’t scream, I whistle.”
Bohn said she doesn’t come there to disrespect the rights of the beachfront owners, and doesn’t need to trespass onto their property.
“All I need is a big enough place to set in my lawn chair and walk to the water and I’m good. It’s that simple.”
Kristine Paterson has lived on the island for about three years. She and her husband take their toddler to the beach.
“There’s really no need to trespass. We have 75 feet here that we can use, and that should be more than enough for our interests.”
Mark Eubank says it’s not his intention to block people from using the public beach, as long as they don’t trespass.
Paterson says she’s willing to work with the people on the waterfront.
“I think we can absolutely find a way that we can delineate the lines so that there is no confusion, and the young families can continue in peace to use this wonderful resource.”
