The manager of the Old Dock Inn in Kings Park said a new sign at the end of Old Dock Road banning trespassing in front of the restaurant is just to preserve their own land.
"We have private beach there. We're trying to keep people off it, people walking dogs too," said manager Sia Koutrakis.
But as comments have come in from locals who say the restaurant has no business barring kayak launching and walking along the harbor shore, Koutrakis said the sign, which she admits is confusing, is simply being misunderstood.
"We're going to get a new sign soon," she said.
The sign, placed at what Koutrakis said is the tide line at the start of the restaurant's beach, originally said, "No Trespassing, No Canoe or Kayak Launching Allowed, Private Beach." But the owners placed two stickers saying "Dogs" and "Walkthru" over some words on the sign confusing the message.
"It's supposed to say, 'No Dogs, No Trespassing, Walkthru Allowed.'" Koutrakis said, adding that the new sign will be much clearer.
Since the owners recently installed the sign, locals have cried foul over what they thought was the restaurant's attempt to manage the shoreline by blocking foot traffic and canoe launching.
The timing was also sensitive since the Town of Smithtown recently barred canoe launch businesses from operating at the bluffs due to safety concerns over swift currents.
Acknowledging that the shorefront near the sign is part of the Long Island Greenbelt trail, Koutrakis said the canoe and kayak warnings were just intended to keep people from storing their boats on the restaurant's beach.
"Some people would come up and use our picnic tables," she said.
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