Parks staff recommends supervised weekends, selective closures at Elms Beach Park instead of user fee

Parks staff told the advisory board on Jan. 7 that Elms Beach Park has experienced congestion, rule violations and conflicts between large pavilion rentals and general visitors and recommended a management plan that does not impose a general user fee this year.

Instead, staff proposed continuing a weekend park attendant and, on days with large pavilion rentals, staffing a second attendant at the park entrance to limit access to the pavilion party when necessary. The idea would be to close vehicle access to general visitors for those reserved afternoons to avoid overcrowding and disputes over pavilion use; the department would announce closures in advance on the website and by signage at the park.

Staff said other options considered included a daily or seasonal admission fee, but noted that charging a user fee would require attendant staffing every weekend and could cost as much as or more than collecting the fees. Board members asked how attendants would distinguish party members from other visitors; staff said the initial approach would be an honor system and occasional checks with the pavilion host, and that the department would monitor results and adjust (for example, restricting pavilion rentals or instituting an admission fee) if the honor system proved ineffective.

The board raised concerns about vehicle capacity; staff said earlier estimates of 75'100 cars were rough and that staff will develop a safe maximum vehicle count. Board members and staff discussed advance notification strategies, signage and parallel parking along the roadway. Staff also reported a $10,000 state grant to replace an old wooden pier at Elms Beach with a floating pier.

No formal vote to change policy or charge a user fee was taken; the advisory board discussed the recommendation and staff said it planned to try the supervised-weekend approach before proposing a fee.