Monterey Leaders plan to hold discussions about safety measures at Bee Rock Overlook after a boy recently fell to his death at the site.
Monterey Mayor Alex Garcia said the town is looking at what it could possibly do to improve safety measures at Bee Rock. The overlook currently does not have any railing or fencing installed to prevent visitors from falling. Garcia said installing fencing or railing is not as easy of a decision as some people think.
“When you consider that over 4,000 people a year come to visit Bee Rock because of the natural, because of the site, you’ve got to take all of that into consideration when you think about altering it,” Garcia said.
Garcia said some residents are calling for safety measures to be improved, while others are against adding safety features. Garcia added that he personally would like to keep Bee Rock the way it is now.
“If I can give my personal opinion, I say leave it natural, you know,” Garcia said. “That’s something that to me is something the way god put it, and it should stay that way. You know, just be careful, that’s all.”
Garcia said he did not hear any concerns about a lack of safety measures at Bee Rock before the incident. Garcia said tragic falling incidents have actually been very rare at Bee Rock.
“We are trying to figure out, you know, when was the last time someone fell off Bee Rock and died, and I don’t think anyone has been able to come up with something,” Garcia said. “There have been people who have fell and you know, got hurt.”
Garcia said the town’s Board of Aldermen will discuss park safety at its upcoming workshop meeting. Garcia said the town operates Bee Rock through a partnership with TennGreen Land Conservancy, and if the town wants to make any improvements, it will have to get approval from them.
Garcia said he personally made and installed some signs at Bee Rock to warn visitors to proceed with caution.