Recreation Director Suggests Raising Yarmouth Beach Fees

Bare BeachYARMOUTH – Yarmouth Parks and Recreation Director Pat Armstrong suggested a range of fee hikes in town but selectmen said beach fees should not be raised.

Armstrong suggested raising weekend and holiday fees while also charging for beach access later in the day when beaches are usually free.

But the response from Yarmouth Selectmen was lukewarm.

“They felt that the fees as they presently exist give us an advantage and support our business community which is one thing that we’d like to be able to do here in town. and so the beach fees will remain the same,” she said.

The towns of Barnstable and Dennis both charge more for weekends and holidays and also charge later in the day, Armstrong said.

Armstrong’s first suggestion was to increase the beach parking fee from $15 to $20 for weekends and holiday. The second was extend the hours of fee collection from 3:30 to 5 p.m. The third was to explore the potential of walk on fees, which is done at the Cape Cod National Seashore.

“The beach fees will remain the same unless selectmen change their position,” she said. “If we’re less expensive, it certainly encourages people to visit our facilities.”

Armstrong said her suggestion for raising fees included her looking at expenses in the department. “We want to make sure we’re not charging more than it’s costing us to run our operations,” she said.

The selectmen were comfortable with the loss profit margin that currently exists in the town of Yarmouth.

 



CapeCod.com
737 West Main Street
Hyannis, MA 02601
Contact Us | Advertise Terms of Use 
Employment and EEO | Privacy