The hot topic of overcrowded beaches has flared up again as this past weekend saw the city’s smaller waterfront parks inundated with visitors.
Residents along the streets leading to secluded beaches at Wilkins and Tyndale in Barrie's south end saw a lineup of vehicles as people looked for a place to cool off.
The city implemented new measures last week at a special council meeting in an effort to eliminate, or at least curb, the problem with the small beaches, which had been over capacity for what they were initially designed for.
Mayor Jeff Lehman said he believes the poor weather two weeks ago and the action taken are why more hasn't been heard on the issue again until now.
“Things got better for a little while and I would say that is a combination of our new measures and the recent weather,” Lehman told BarrieToday. “Once the heatwave broke and we had a week where it was a little rainy, I started getting some emails from Wilkins Park residents saying thank you and that things had calmed down.”
However, temperatures soared this past weekend and there were still vehicles parking on side streets as people make the trek to the waterfront.
Lehman said there are a number of things the city has done to reduce overcrowding at small beach areas like Wilkins and Tyndale, but some just haven't taken effect yet.
“A lot of the measures we are putting into place are just coming about now, especially from a parking perspective,” the mayor said. “It can’t be done overnight, as we have to manufacture signs then install them. We also had to apply to the (province) to get the higher fines.”
The city has not yet heard back from the province on whether they can increase illegal parking fines from $30 to $100.
Meanwhile, signs along streets leading to Wilkins and Tyndale should be in this week.
Coun. Mike McCann, who represents Ward 10, called the higher fines a “game changer” and something they need to implement as soon as possible.
“The $30 fine is nothing to people; they almost don’t mind paying it,” McCann told BarrieToday. “We need to do better and if that means closing the beaches, so be it.”
Lehman said he will “not hesitate to close the beaches again” if the current measures don’t work, but wants to see them through first before making that decision.
“If we shut them down outright, then our residents can’t use them. Lots of people in Barrie who don’t have a backyard use the parks as their backyard. Closing them is a last step,” said Lehman.
Lehman noted that closing the city's smaller beaches would also add strain to Centennial Beach. He also believes York Region entering Stage 3 of the province's reopening plan may help alleviate some beach crowding here in Barrie.
“All the other stuff you may take your kids to is closed. Some has opened for Stage 3, but really there are still closures,” said Lehman. "With York Region now opening up, that may reduce some of the pressure.
"But places like Wonderland have been closed and beaches were open, so we’ve seen crowded beaches all over Simcoe County," the mayor added. "We’re all struggling with what is an effective way to limit overcrowding while not shutting the beaches down outright.”
The city has rolled out higher parking rates for non-residents at the Lakeshore, North Marina, and Spirit Catcher parking lots, which will be reclassified as waterfront lots, resulting in an increase to $10 hourly for non-residents, or $50 for the whole day.
