The Stinson Beach parking lot may soon become one of the first in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area with parking fees. High operating costs coupled with a dramatic increase in visitation prompted the National Park Service to propose charging visitors $3 an hour to park at Stinson Beach, where they currently park for free.
The daily maximum would be limited to $10, and the fees would take effect in mid to late 2022. The National Park Service is accepting public comment on the proposal until Sept. 26. Comments can be submitted via email to [email protected] or phone at (415) 561.4700.
“The National Park Service is committed to ensuring underserved audiences have access to parks and all of the inspiring opportunities they have to offer,” Julian Espinoza, a spokesman for G.G.N.R.A, said in a statement. “We have worked hard to ensure the proposed fees are affordable and in keeping with costs for similar nearby amenities offered by other organizations.”
Yet Jesse Peri, chief of the Stinson Beach Fire Protection District, said his department is concerned about the potential impacts of the proposed fees on street parking in town, and said he hopes the park will give Stinson Beach residents more time to raise their concerns.
“It is too short of a window to allow for adequate public comment,” Chief Peri said.
The Stinson Beach parking lot tends to fill up on weekends, leading beachgoers to park along the highway and clog neighborhoods. Residents complain frequently about congestion and obstacles to emergency access.
This summer, the county approved new fire lanes for seven roads in town that raise the fine in existing no-parking zones from $99 to $163, a move meant to address emergency access concerns. Chief Peri said the ordinance helped improve access, but didn’t solve the problem.
Golden Gate officials have said that a shuttle service like the one serving Muir Woods National Monument is unlikely to work for Stinson Beach. But in a news release last month, the park recommended taking public transportation to the beach, including the Marin Transit 61 and 61M bus routes.
The recreation area was the second most-visited national park last year and, like the Point Reyes National Seashore, it does not charge entrance fees. Under the new proposal, the park would retain 80 percent of the revenue generated by the fees to fund facilities improvements and vital operations like trash collection and traffic control. The funds would also be used to replace the Stinson Beach lifeguard tower.
Several beaches in San Francisco will also see new parking fees. In May, Golden Gate proposed an array of camping and parking fee increases in the Marin Headlands and the Presidio; that plan passed the public comment phase and will take effect next year.
Mr. Espinoza said that before implementing the fees, the park will work closely with the California Coastal Commission, the state agency charged with protecting and maximizing public access to the state’s coastline.
“We believe this would require commission review and we’re looking forward to discussing it further with the Golden Gate National Recreation Area staff,” said Noaki Schwartz, a spokeswoman for the coastal commission.