Marc Garber, Host, WNYC News & Afternoon News Anchor, WQXR
Marc joined WNYC in 2006 after working most of the previous three decades in commercial radio, including at WQXR when it was still part of The New York Times Company.
Parking Fees Raised at Some Area Beaches
Monday, March 12, 2012 - 11:34 PM
WNYC
People looking for a nice day at the beach this summer may be in for some sticker shock. Parking a car at some area beaches will cost 50- to 100-percent more this summer than last.
Gateway National Recreation Area's daily parking rates on Sandy Hook will increase from $10 to $15 for most vehicles. At Jacob Riis Park in Queens the fee doubles to $10 per day.
Fair Haven, New Jersey, resident Peter O'Such has long been a vocal opponent of any parking fees. “National park land is national park land and it belongs to the people, and if they should get a break anywhere it should be on national park land,” he said.
The Sandy Hook angler feels bad for the family on a tight budget heading for a day at the shore. "They're looking at $50, $60 dollars...with the $15 (parking fee) and the cost of gasoline for a round trip and Parkway tolls."
"The public spoke and Gateway listened," Gateway Superintendent Linda Canzanelli said, noting that the increase at Sandy Hook is half the amount originally proposed last summer.
The National Park Service charges no entrance fee for users without motor vehicles at Gateway National Recreation Area.
Comments [2]
This is a result of all the 'necessary' cuts to the national budget that Representatives in Congress keep braying about. While it's a lovely idea to have the people's access to Parks and NPS lands restored, the reality is someone has to pay for the maintenance and upkeep of those lands and if Congress isn't going to, then the buck gets passed to the people. In an ideal world the budget would be trimmed of subsidies to oil companies, but in our world the budget for parks and social programs are the easiest targets.
Beach Access fees for Cape Hatteras are now $120 per year or $50 per week. Previously they were $0 and the fees collected are for the newly hired people and infrastructure needed to collect the fees!! WhAAAAAT?
The DOI and NPS are systematically removing us from the lands they manage. Look at a few of the lawsuits before DOI and NPS: Uranium mining in AZ, a Oyster Farm in CA, the snowmobiles in MT, off road vehicles in FL, pipelines in NE, powerlines in NJ, parking fees in NJ, beach access in NC.......Where does it end?
Have your US Representative co-sponsor Support HR # 4094 by NC Congressman Burr.......Can we just have our access to Parks and NPS land restored?
If you don't know who your Congressman is ....www.ncbba.org .....can help you!
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