Kite Shoreline Lake in Mountain View

[RPskater]

I saw the talk about Shoreline Lake and decided to make some calls. Of course the first response from the Aquatic Center was "NOT KITING ALLOWED". I asked them where the ordinance was restricting kiteboarding on the lake. Their response was "there just isn't any kiting allowed". I reminded them that only official laws and rules are the ones that matter. Next, I called the city since Shoreline Lake is a city park. They had no idea about anything regarding kiteboarding and Shoreline Lake. They were kind enough to look into it for me and called me back 2 days later. Again, they had no idea where the city stood on the issue of kiteboarding on Shoreline Lake. I went through all of the city ordinances associated with the lake and found nothing forbidding the use of kites on the lake. The only thing I could find was a possible leg for the restriction to stand on is found here at the end of the list -
SEC. 38.16. Miscellaneous.
Anyone using the park or any city building, whether by permit or otherwise, shall abide by all rules pertaining to that particular facility in addition to the above.
(Ord. No. 10.70, 3/30/70.)
That is a pretty open ended ordinance if I ever saw one. I called the Aquatic Center again and asked if I could kite there. Again, it was a "NO". I asked what rule they had forbidding it. They just said "NO". So I rephrased it one more time. I asked them if I decided to kite the lake and they came out and told me I could not kite and I decided to ignore them and go out kiting anyway, they would most likely call a ranger or police officer. WHAT WOULD THAT OFFICER LEGALLY WRITE ME UP FOR? DID I VIOLATE A LAW OF SOME SORT? THAT IS WHAT I AM LOOKING FOR! They took my name and said they would look into it for me. We'll see what they come up with. I told them I was not trying to start problems and would obey the law. I just don't care about someone else's unfounded preference against it (if in fact that's what it turns out to be). And ya, I tried to help them out with suggesting that maybe they could look into the airport as a possible reason. Of course they have a "kite Flying" area designated in the park not far away. :doh:

[robotvox]

I didn't re-read this whole thread, so sorry if I am repeating, but I was just running my buddy's dog at Lake Lagunitas on Stanford campus yesterday, and I noticed some very interesting wording on the sign. It says Watersports, Kayaking, Windusrfing, etc. to be done At Own Risk. or something to that effect. To me this reads: kiting welcome!
Of course, the lake is bone dry right now, but I understand they typically flood it in early spring. I was super excited to read this, because living in Palo Alto, I have noticed that some days the wind direction is funny and it will be windy here but not at 3rd ave.
The lake is not huge, more like a pond, really, maybe 150 yards square. The plus side is a nice flat, rockless bottom with no obstacles that I could find. I am totally down to test this spot as soon as there is water and wind, if anybody else lives down this way and wants to buddy up and check it out (around March) drop me a line.
-mike

[knyfe]

always wanted to kite Lagunita but you would need a bow for the super gusty winds you might get. Lets wait for a stormy spring wind and we will do it. G

[adamrod]

i used to teach windsurfing on that lake. unless i'm mistaken, after i left school, they stopped flooding it (because no one else asked them to and they were taking some heat from the enviro folks). i'm pretty sure, unless it's a really really rainy winter, it's a mudhole all year round. i don't think anyone would stop you from kiting it, but i can't imagine there ever being good wind.

the last few years, we used to teach here:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source= ... 9&t=h&z=16


now that i think about it, it could be a pretty awesome place to kite. it's on private land, but if you ask nicely, i bet they will let you in.

[dpca10]

I went out to shoreline lake a year back earlier in this post. It wasn't really looking all that kitable. Adam, give me a call if you hit that other little lake up. I'll obviously be down in the area for work.
Dave