The cost of parking at Innisfil Beach Park will be going up for non-residents – whenever the park reopens this year.
The 2019 parking fee was $7 per hour - to a maximum of $45 - at all three of the town’s municipal parking lots within one kilometre of Lake Simcoe. Those lots are located at Innisfil Beach Park, Shoreacres Drive, and Guest Road.
Cost to use the boat launch was $20 per launch; bus parking and entry to Innisfil Beach Park was $50 per bus, plus $10 per person – except for children under 10, who were free.
In total, the Town collected $365,150 in parking revenues last year.
Town staff proposed increasing both the parking fees and boat launch fees for 2020 – to $10 per hour to a maximum of $50 a day for parking, and to $25 per boat launch. There was no change proposed for buses.
The increase would raise parking revenues to approximately $399,000 annually – in a normal year.
The report from staff acknowledged that, with COVID-19 closures, revenues were likely to be down in 2020, but asked council to approve the increase to be ready for when recreational amenities reopen.
Coun. Rob Nicol supported increasing the fees at Innisfil Beach Park, but not at the Shoreacres parking lot in Gilford, or at Guest Road.
“These are water access points only, not the destination that Innisfil Beach Park is,” he argued.
Council agreed, and voted in favour of increasing fees at Innisfil Beach Park only, especially since a report from staff noted that the current fines for parking illegally - $75 voluntary payment, $90 set fine – remain higher than parking rates.
Staff also pointed out that parking and access remain free for all Innisfil residents who have a valid Resident Pass, available from the town.
