Madison Officials Make More Changes To Beach Parking System

MADISON, CT - Madison officials continue to tinker with the new beach parking system in an effort to address issues that have risen since its installation.

The changes were made at the most recent Board of Selectmen meeting, following a discussion with Rob Card, Beach & Recreation Commission Chair.

Card stated that the Commission met earlier and that there was a unanimous recommendation to return enforcement back to 5:00 p.m. at the Surf Club (versus 8:00 p.m.). The rationale being that many organizations meet after 5:00 p.m. as well as the restaurant business sees increased foot traffic after 5:00 p.m.

The recommendation is only to move enforcement back to 5:00 p.m. for the Surf Club and not at East or West Wharf. The Board reviewed the traffic at all beaches since the 4th of July and whether changes might need to be made to all beach hours.

Selectmen Scott Murphy stated that he felt foot traffic was less after 5:00 p.m. at all beaches. He added that he didn’t feel comfortable with the message that was being sent to non-residents as well that they are not “welcome” within Madison’s walls.

Park and Rec Director Scot Erskine stated that enforcement was always stopped at 5:00 p.m. at all beaches in past years.

The Board reviewed whether 5:00 p.m. enforcement cut off was also appropriate at East Wharf and asked the Beach & Recreation Commission to weigh in on this proposal.

Commission members commented on the validity in changing hours at the Surf Club and East Wharf but also commented that beach passes will allow residents to park regardless of the hours.

Card added that last week’s public information session was very informative and that decisions made and recommended have been done so with the available data.

Now that the public information session has brought forth more public discourse and personal data of residents and visitors has prompted this change. He added that the Commission would be reviewing the enforcement at East Wharf and West Wharf beaches at their upcoming meetings as well.

Following the discussion, the Selectmen approved revising hours of parking at the Surf Club to 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and to also move hours of enforcement to 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at East Wharf Beach as well.

Those changes come in to already put into place changes designed to slow the stream of out of town beachgoers jamming Madison beaches and parking lots - especially on busy holidays such as July 4th.

Those changes are increasing the hourly parking rate at all Town beaches from $3/hr to $10/hr, to be replaced by a daily rate system when the computer software allows it; and, setting a daily minimum pass rate as part of the current Beach Pass System, at $50 per day Monday – Thursday and $75 per day Friday-Sunday and Holidays; to be implemented in accordance with the software requirements of the contractor.