Surf’s Up, So Are Rates for Beach Access

In the wake of another tough budget season, some coastal towns are considering raising the rates on beach access and parking to offset budget reductions.

But in some communities, you get more than just access to sand and surf. In Westport, for example, beach goers get free WiFi access. The town is considering upping its beach parking price for the 2011 season from $40 to $50 on a weekend summer day, according to Janis Collins, chairperson of the Westport Parks and Recreation Commission.  She said the last increase in Westport was in 2008. 

“While not in direct relationship to budget reductions, it is consistent with discussion related to the Parks and Recreation Department mainlining its revenue stream and in this case allows us to impact revenues with a minimal impact on residents,” Collins said.

“We have seen an increase in usage, perhaps attributable to fees increased at the adjacent Sherwood Island State Park, and the increased traffic has resulted in an increased demand for services particularly related to supervision, enforcement, and litter and trash collection services," she added.

In Greenwich, applications for seasonal beach passes and parking permits will include increased fees as well.

According to Joseph Siciliano, director of the Parks and Recreation Department, annual beach passes for adults will increase from $27 to $30 while the fee for a children’s pass (ages 5 to 14) will remain at $5, as well the free card for resident seniors who are at least 65 years old. Residents also will see fees increase for use of the ferries to Island Beach and Great Captain Island from $3 to $4 for adults and from $2 to $3 for children ages 5 to 14.

The price of a day trip for out-of-town residents will be increased from $3 to $10 per person. Non-residents must also purchase a day pass for $5. The parking fee for out-of-town visitors or residents without a parking permit remains at $20 per day.

An overflow of visitors to the popular Island Beach prompted an outcry from residents last July and Siciliano said that new protocols will be enacted to prevent similar situations for the upcoming season. Ferry employees and managers will now report passenger counts to parks and recreation management including Siciliano.

“We will continue to monitor the attendance and when it reaches 1,600” that’s when the town may consider increasing staff, said Siciliano. “We want to know if the traffic in and the traffic out equalizes itself. We do get people who go out on the 10, 11 or 12 o’clock ferry and plant themselves for the day."

“A lot of the capacity (limits) is based on the flow of the coming and going of visitors,” he added.

There is parking for 1,100 to 1,200 cars at the 147-acre Greenwich Point Park.

Entrance to all five Fairfield beaches is free and open to the public but during the beach season of Memorial Day to Labor Day a beach sticker is required to park. The town charges $25 to park on weekends, or out-of-towners can buy a season pass for $135.

There is no fee to park at Lake Mohegan allowing people to access the open space around the lake, but there is a fee to gain access to the swimming and sprinkler park areas from Memorial Day Saturday through Labor Day. The charge for adults on a weekday is $10 for residents and $18 for non-residents.

Jennings, the largest of Fairfield’s beaches, is a 27-acre site offering visitors a large sandy beach with views of Long Island Sound. It is handicapped accessible with a concession stand, bathroom facilities, volleyball poles and sailboat racks. The property is located near the South Benson Boat Marina and shares a parking lot with the Henry Rowland Memorial Playground, home of the “Sand Castle Playground” and the newly built skate park.

In Norwalk, the Department of Parks and Recreation recently announced its intent to honor last year’s beach stickers throughout the coming year.  The “resident pass” will allow Norwalk residents access to beaches, all Norwalk Parks, and the city’s Transfer Station.  Passes which were set to expire at the beginning of this summer season will instead remain valid until 2012.

Norwalk Director of Parks and Recreation Mike Mocciae praised the commission's February 2011 decision to extend the validity of last year’s permits: “Eliminating the need for residents to endure the process of  applying for and picking up their stickers is a convenience for our citizens, a savings for our  budget that will allow our employees to focus attention on park services.  It is a win-win that I am very happy to be a part of.”

Norwalk resident Juliana Kenny is pleased with the city's actions.

“I think it was really generous of them to not charge residents for a new pass this summer," Kenny said. "Calf Pasture Beach has always been my favorite and I look forward to returning there in the warmer days ahead."

The fee to get into the beach is for parking only – anyone can walk or ride their bike into the beach, Mocciae told Patch.

“Weekend fees are $20 per day for non-residents and we do have many people from out-of-city use the beach. We took in approximately $180,000 from non-residents,” he said.

In the bordering town of Darien, Parks and Recreation is charging residents $40 this year, which is $5 more than last year's fee. The pass gives residents access to all beaches and parks in town. According to the minutes of the Parks and Recreation Commission's Feb. 16 meeting, Susan Swiatek, director of Parks and Recreation, said that the revenue projection would now be $376,300 from $323,305.   

A significant operating item cut from the budget is for the Parks and Recreation Facility Maintenance Contractual account.  During the meeting, Swiatek explained that in the past the town would reimburse the Nature Center for bathroom costs.  

Swiatek did not return calls and emails requesting additional information.

In Stamford, residents with a vehicle registered in the city can obtain beach passes for $20. As of April 29, beach passes cannot be purchased through the mail, only in person.

The city's Permits Manager, Frank Fedeli, could not be reached for comment.