A big thank you to Otto Knaak for informing us what the “paid parking explosion” is all about.
What an appalling situation. On the one hand, you’re trying to attract more tourists and on the other, you are driving them away — charging them to use our beaches and Channel Parkway whilst fining them if the parking runs out. Everyone knows how easy it is to lose track of time when you’re having fun and as a tourist I’d be looking elsewhere if I received a fine. In our community we have a lot of low-income families whose only free entertainment is spending a day at the beach.
You won’t even be able to sit on the benches and gaze at the lake without paying. On Sunday, I watched the people on the walkway at Skaha – young parents pushing strollers, people walking their dogs on leashes and our elderly getting fresh air and exercise – now you would charge them for that privilege?
I’ve lived here nearly 50 years and as taxpayers, we’ve paid for the walkways at both lakes over and over again!
At best, the metered parking at both lakes and surrounding areas will be seasonal so what will be the costs involved? I understand the management of the parking spaces will be privatized so if that’s the scenario it would mean the City would only receive a portion of the monies collected. Is it really worth it? As a taxpayer, I’m furious that we can’t even enjoy our own parks and beaches without paying. We’re going from a warm, welcoming “place to live forever” to a “place of greedy gouging” reflecting on all of us. How very, very sad!
Yvonne Plewis
Penticton