Verification program will control parking at a busy Burlington beach this year

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Published May 2, 2023 at 1:31 pm

A verification program will control who gets to park for free at a Burlington beach.

The program will see the City of Burlington continue to make available 10 free parking passes for residents of Halton Region for the 2023 and 2024 seasons at Beachway Park on weekends.

However, those entering the lot will have to fill out an online parking exemption form once they’ve arrived at the beach and parked in a legal spot. The exemption doesn’t guarantee a spot, but it does give residents free parking for the day.

The move is in response to the high volume of visitors to Beachway Park and the resulting traffic issues.

In presenting the motion for approval, Mayor Marianne Meed Ward said the number of users at the lakefront is expected to increase in the post-pandemic world and she stressed the need for controls.

She pointed out the 10 free passes should provide enough access to the beach for taxpaying Halton residents while the parking fee is set at a reasonable amount for those who don’t live in the area.

The program will last from May to September where weekend paid parking is enforced from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The parking rate is $2.50 per hour or a daily flat rate of $20.

As well, as part of the mayor’s plan, a reserve account will be created from parking revenues that will fund future operating and capital requirements at the Burlington Beach Regional Waterfront Park that will go to future park improvements.

Further, to increase parking in the beach area, Burlington is negotiating to temporarily use vacant land in the vicinity for overflow parking.

For those who don’t have a smartphone the parking form can be filled out online, and, if you don’t have a home computer the forms can be filled out online at any Burlington Public Library branch where staff can assist.

 

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