Narragansett Considering Boosting Beach Fees to $80 for Family of Four in 2021
GoLocalProv News Team and Kate Nagle
Narragansett Considering Boosting Beach Fees to $80 for Family of Four in 2021
The Recreation Advisory Board in August voted to approve changes that would increase the daily admission fee from $10 to $15 — and parking from $10 on weekdays and $15 on weekends — to $20 seven days a week.
The proposed changes are up for discussion and review by the Town Council, who have the final authority to vote on any changes.
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“If the kids are 12 and older, with two parents, it will be $80,” he said, of parking - and access fees.
Pugh posted the chart of proposed changes on social media.
SEE MORE BELOW CHART
“Usually, we don’t hear about these things until they come up,” said Pugh. “Tonight’s meeting a workshop. It’s an early discussion. There will be no votes tonight — we’ll have a meeting in the future to vote. I think it should happen after the election.”
MEETING INFO: Narragansett Town Council Zoom Info Can be Found HERE
Steve Wright, Director of Parks and Recreation for the Town of Narragansett, told GoLocal the proposal is preliminary, and he expects feedback.
“We haven’t had increases [in admission or parking] since 2017, I believe. I’d have to check,” he said. “If you look around at other beaches in the region, it’s not really off the going rate. And we’re the only beach I’m aware of that has admission fees.”
“We’re an enterprise fund. We have to sustain ourselves year after year,” he said.
While numbers were down in 2020 due to coronavirus, Wright noted the positive — that a beach season was still made available.
“We were down $398,000 this year. That’s to be expected. We had limited parking,” said Wright. “On the upside, we were able to offer a beach season. We have a healthy fund balance. We’ll be fine.”
Narragansett Town Councilman Pat Murray, who is a self-described Libertarian, said that there are financial, and coronavirus, realities that the town needs to grapple with moving forward.
“We need to strike a balance - it’s a town beach with public access,” said Murray. “Until COVID-19 is eradicated, the way to do that is to look at parking and fees.”
“I’d be more inclined to look at the parking increase than the gate fee,” he said. “I think the public should have full access to the beach, but there’s a cost element involved. Staffing, lifeguards — it costs the town money.”