Victoria Park meters fall short in many ways
One of the great benefits of living in Cobourg is Victoria Beach. Nothing beats going down to the beautiful sandy beach on Lake Ontario when the heat skyrockets during the summer. It takes no time to get there - about five minutes anywhere in town - and it is rarely closed.
Yet, the town council is bent on making this wonderful resource another cash grab. More than a year ago, the put paid parking meters on all the street surrounding the beach and park area. This means it costs $1 an hour to use visit the beach. And, while some may say this is nothing, it is a punitive measure at the least and an unnecessary deterrent at best.
What is more ironic is the meters are not meeting the expected revenue projections. When the budget was being drafted for this year, a report from the town manager, Rick Stinson, showed only $17,700 was collected, far less than half the expected $52,000 projected when the project was first proposed.
There was a huge uproar about the proposal as many citizens felt the park and beach, two jewels in Cobourg's crown since the 19th century, should be free to the public. Many visitors from upstate New York travelled across on the Lake Ontario ferry to spend time on the lovely beach. To pay for this natural attribute is wrong, critics said.
Also the Cobourg Lawn Bowling Club, another historic fixture of the area, felt the fees were unfair to their members, many who are seniors, who enjoyed free parking.
For those low-income residents, the meters are a huge slap in the face. Already the Northumberland YMCA shares for its use of the pools. (Tim Horton's pays for one night a week free.) For these people there is no place to go for relief from the heat.
Sure, paying for parking for a day at Cobourg beach is nothing compared to going to a movie or dining out. But what is more aggravating is the dogged meter maids who hand out $10 fines if the meters expire.
Council will not remove the meters, regardless of how many complaints it receives. The politicians on this council are far too money-grubbing and cash hungry to step back. Still, future councils could give back the public beach to citizens to enjoy. The lifeguards cannot be such a huge expense that taxpayers would scoff at carrying the minor costs to all residents and visitors can enjoy this incredible resource.
Yet, the town council is bent on making this wonderful resource another cash grab. More than a year ago, the put paid parking meters on all the street surrounding the beach and park area. This means it costs $1 an hour to use visit the beach. And, while some may say this is nothing, it is a punitive measure at the least and an unnecessary deterrent at best.
What is more ironic is the meters are not meeting the expected revenue projections. When the budget was being drafted for this year, a report from the town manager, Rick Stinson, showed only $17,700 was collected, far less than half the expected $52,000 projected when the project was first proposed.
There was a huge uproar about the proposal as many citizens felt the park and beach, two jewels in Cobourg's crown since the 19th century, should be free to the public. Many visitors from upstate New York travelled across on the Lake Ontario ferry to spend time on the lovely beach. To pay for this natural attribute is wrong, critics said.
Also the Cobourg Lawn Bowling Club, another historic fixture of the area, felt the fees were unfair to their members, many who are seniors, who enjoyed free parking.
For those low-income residents, the meters are a huge slap in the face. Already the Northumberland YMCA shares for its use of the pools. (Tim Horton's pays for one night a week free.) For these people there is no place to go for relief from the heat.
Sure, paying for parking for a day at Cobourg beach is nothing compared to going to a movie or dining out. But what is more aggravating is the dogged meter maids who hand out $10 fines if the meters expire.
Council will not remove the meters, regardless of how many complaints it receives. The politicians on this council are far too money-grubbing and cash hungry to step back. Still, future councils could give back the public beach to citizens to enjoy. The lifeguards cannot be such a huge expense that taxpayers would scoff at carrying the minor costs to all residents and visitors can enjoy this incredible resource.
posted by Robert Washburn at
9:50 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home