Gilbert Peter Gia
2015
Park visitors were a diverse group. In May 1929, in late night and early morning hours, mixed-sex, nude bathing parties had been observed at the reservoir. Hart was incensed. He had labored to create a beautiful park for everyone, but he was prepared to protect it against criticism. He warned, "You can't quote me too strongly on this matter, I am going to have three deputy sheriffs on the lookout at the Kern River park, and if anyone, man or woman, is caught bathing in the lake at that time of the day or night without a bathing suit, he or she will be arrested. I don't care who these mixed couples are. I have given instructions they will be taken immediately and locked up in the county jail to await the due course of the law."
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