Each year, there are fewer beach mats to walk on safely and securely to the water's edge. This year, the length of beach mats was reduced to a measly 50 feet in length. Why even bother ? Last weekend, the 50 foot section of mats was removed from 18th Street to accommodate a tent for the young, marathon participants. I wonder how the senior citizens and the disabled managed to reach the water, meandering through 2 football fields of desert-like sand. The installation of the mats must be too expensive for the City, just as the parking rates are too expensive for the parkers.