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Guilford County will open Southwest Park in early June. The 500-acre gem hugs the new Randleman Lake and offers hiking, picnic shelters, bird-watching, playing fields and -- naturally -- boating and fishing.

Except, the boating and fishing might have to wait until next year. The Piedmont Triad Regional Water Authority board voted Tuesday to set March 1 as the date for opening the lake to recreational activities.

The decision surprised Roger Bardsley, Guilford County's parks planner.

Southwest Park is "gorgeous," he said. "We are ready to roll."

The lake is stocked with fish that have been pronounced big, healthy and ready to catch by state game officials, Bardsley added.

The water authority's decision was prompted by delays preparing the marina on the Randolph County portion of the lake. Electricity isn't available yet, although that's expected this summer, board member Darrell Frye said Friday.

Guilford County wants to open its part of the lake sooner, north of N.C. 62, and is willing to assume patrol responsibilities, Bardsley said.

Frye, who represents Randolph County on the board, doesn't think that's possible. "The Water Authority is ultimately responsible for the lake," he said. "It can't reassign that, it can't pass it off to somebody else."

It should reconsider. Providing access to the smaller Guilford County part of the lake should be easy enough. Only non-motorized boating will be allowed there. It would be unfortunate to deny rowers, kayakers and canoeists a full summer on the new lake when it seems feasible to get started now. But, as long as the lake remains officially closed, no one can even cross the 200-foot buffer that surrounds the shoreline. Southwest Park, at Wall Road and Jonquil Drive, and the Randolph County marina will offer the only legal access points when the lake opens.

But that highlights the enforcement issue. People are already using the lake for boating and fishing, illegally.

"We even had one kid jump off a bridge," Frye said. Wardens have written a number of citations for illegal fishing and boating. Swimming won't be allowed at all.

"It's not rampant, but it's happening," Frye said. There are many "hidden access points" that area residents know, he added.

Which just means use of the lake should be channeled to the proper places as soon as possible. In Guilford County, that's Southwest Park.

Randleman Lake was created primarily for water supply, but recreation is also an important use. It was built with public funds, mostly from residents of Greensboro and High Point in Guilford County. They're due access to the lake.

This project has been in development for decades, testing everyone's patience. Maybe another year to get on the water isn't unreasonable in the long view, but it seems unnecessary. The park is ready, the water is fine, and the fish are waiting.