Muskegon city officials continue to increase beach parking fees at the expense of tourists and residents outside the city.
Muskegon instituted paid parking at Pere Marquette Beach, Margaret Drake Elliot Park, Kruse Park, and Harbour Towne Beach in 2020, according to WZZM13.com. The first year’s revenue was estimated at $500,000.
That number jumped to $900,000 in 2023, as reported by MLive.com. But it seems almost $1 million in new revenue isn’t enough.
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In November, the Muskegon City Commission approved new beach parking rates for 2025. A daily parking pass for nonresidents jumped to $20 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, $10 on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, with Wednesday slated as “free day.”
The plan also raised a season pass to $40 – a 100% increase from previous years. Muskegon residents get two free beach parking passes per season, but residents surrounding the city do not.
After an outcry from citizens, the commission decided to lower the price to $15 for day passes on Saturday and Sunday and hold a Buy One, Get One free promotion through Jan. 16 for 2025 season parking passes, which remain at $40.
Regular beachgoers like the Patio Girls, a group of seniors who attended high school together and visit the beach at least three times a week, are looking to move their beach party elsewhere.
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“A lot of us are on limited incomes, so going from $20 to $40 kind of fired us all up,” said Barb Frohner, speaking about the increase on the annual pass to FOX17online.com.
Historically, beach parking was free, prompting many residents to question why the rates keep going up. Norton Shores resident Kim Fisher wonders what changed.
“My question is what were you doing before when you weren’t charging,” Fisher said in this WGVUnews.org report.