Loss of simple pleasures

Re: Save for a sunny day: St. Catharines again wades into beach parking fee debate, March 19

I remember bygone years when my sweetie and I drove in the evenings to Lakeside Park and Sunset Beach, took off our shoes, held hands and strolled on the beach.

There were no security guards, parking fees or time limitations. You came and went to the beach as you pleased.

After COVID-19, thanks to some city councillors, a simple pleasure of life that Mother Nature gave us to enjoy for free was taken away. Councillors decided to impose restrictions on visits and charge parking fees.

It’s a pity residents have no say in this.

Some councillors say parking fees pay for security and encourage use of public transit. For generations, there was no security at the beaches and I would love to see councillors take a bus to the beach.

Coun. Robin McPherson said, “We have to move away from this idea that parking is free.”

If fees aren’t charged at the beaches, she said, then parking fees of every kind would have to be waived in the city. Really?

When it was free to park at the beaches, were any other parking fees waived? Not at all.

Lakeside Park and Sunset Beach are attractions that draw local residents. They also draw non-residents who spend time and gas money coming and, when here, buy food, drinks and maybe rent a motel room and shop. Nonresidents are money-makers for businesses. Now councillors want to ban non-residents from the beaches.

When non-residents come to local restaurants, motels, theatres, bars or any kind of business, are they banned from entry? Of course not. If establishments are filled or there’s no parking spots, you leave and come back another day.

When it comes to beaches, some councillors have this need to take control and skim money from the public. Don’t the three levels of government already squeeze enough money from citizens?

Lou Cesar, St. Catharines