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County details waterfront park hours, passes and weekend revenue; weekend cash only now, electronic payments planned
Summary
Parks division reported seasonal hours, fee structure and attendance at three waterfront parks, said staff collected $138,289 in passes and day fees last year, and noted Snow Hill had increased visitation after new amenities opened.
Parks division staff described operations and weekend fee collection at the county’s three waterfront parks and provided last year’s attendance and revenue figures.
Roy Kovsey, the parks division manager, said waterfront parks (Elm Beach, Myrtle Point and Snow Hill) open at 8 a.m. daily, with closing times that vary by month and sunset. Snow Hill is closed to public vehicle access December through March but Elm Beach allows walk‑ins during that winter period. Kovsey said Snow Hill is staffed daily April through November; Myrtle Point is staffed on holidays and weekends from the first Saturday in May through Labor Day.
Kovsey said weekend visitors can choose day passes or season passes and that season passes may cover a single park or combinations of two or three parks. He said passes are sold in the main office, online and at waterfront parks on weekends. Weekend park entries are currently cash only at the park gate; staff said they hope to add electronic payment capability tied to a new reservation system and to extend utilities and Wi‑Fi to some parks to support that change.
On attendance, staff said Elm Beach had the highest overall weekend attendance and the highest percentage of out‑of‑county visitors; Snow Hill’s visitation increased after the recent playground ribbon‑cutting and the park’s amenities. Kovsey reported that the department collected $138,289 last year in single‑day admissions and season pass sales across the three waterfront parks.
Staff emphasized there are no lifeguards at the county beaches and described staff roles for weekend operations—fee collection, parking assistance, trash removal and monitoring park safety. Kovsey and other staff said they are exploring parking additions and other access options to expand water access in underserved areas.
