The piers are not meant for large gatherings. This area is part of the UWM system, and used to be reserved for students, faculty and alumni only. The piers are mainly a place for people to dock their boats to go ashore and enjoy the many restaurants in the area. Now, they do not enforce the student only policy as we can go there and enjoy it anytime we want, but usually in the summer when there are few students. I've been there many times; they have boat rentals, Kayaks, paddle boards, etc... and the piers are for those usages also.
Since school just started, many students flock to this area as it is a great place to hang out. No one expected them to completely fill the piers, they usually just lay around sun bathing.
These piers are NOT PERMANENT. They are lightweight and are taken out every fall and put back in the spring. I have installed a few of these, and they can be done by one person if need be. Many have wheels on them and in the water they are even lighter. All piers are taken out of our lakes because the ice will destroy them. I left just the first section in one winter for ice fishing, and it was gone by spring.
This is really a non story as it is not the first time it's happened, and it will not be the last. Kids are warned, but they will do what kids do.