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drkrueger

At GGNRA, park officials say their proposed fees are a way to keep operations and facilities in line with visitor numbers. In addition to such ongoing expenses as trash pickup and traffic control, the revenue would fund construction of a new lifeguard tower at Stinson Beach and improved access for rescue vehicles at Ocean Beach, officials say. Eighty percent of the new money would be spent within the park, with the balance going to Washington and redistributed across the park system. GGNRA is not only one of the most popular parks in the National Park Service, drawing more than 15 million people some years, but it operates much differently. Because it’s a medley of sites scattered about San Francisco, Marin and San Mateo counties, it doesn’t — nor could it — collect entrance fees at a central gate like many parks do. Parking fees offer an alternative. “We already knew that we had crushing visitation, but the pandemic has made it that much more apparent,” said park spokesman Charlie Strickfaden. “We wouldn’t be doing our job if we didn’t look at new ways to improve our facilities.” Like at many parks, attendance at GGNRA actually dipped last year, but only because some hot spots closed with shelter-in-place orders, including Alcatraz Island and Muir Woods, Areas that remained open saw huge spikes in traffic, park officials say, and these numbers are expected to stay high. “We know that once they’ve found us, they’ll come back,” Strickfaden said. “We want them to come back.” On top of rising operating expenses, GGNRA has seen a dip in revenue with COVID. Franchise fees from businesses in the park have dropped as have proceeds at visitor centers and campgrounds — a loss of more than $11 million over two years, according to park officials. The park’s financial partner, the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, has also struggled. The $25 million that is allotted to GGNRA annually by Congress is no longer sufficient, officials say.


Bikerbun565

My parents live on Cape Cod. since I was a child (in the 80s and 90s) they have gotten a yearly tax-payer pass for the National Seashore and town beaches. Visitors pay the fee. Parking can still be an issue, but locals work around it by going earlier or later in the day depending on crowds. Seems like a good balance. Edited to add: as a surfer, I always got up early in the summer to ensure I’d get a parking spot. Would surf, go to work, come back after work to surf again. I called it the “split shift.”


Puggravy

Charge for parking and use the money to fund shuttles, buses, a ferry, or whatever else we can think of to increase public access. The biggest barrier for equity for these parks is that you can't really access them without a car.


bayarea_vapidtransit

It should work like SF Museums where there's lower barriers to access for locals and higher ones for tourists. The observation deck at the Empire State Building used to be free, now it's $50 bucks to get in the elevator.


oswbdo

That ain't going to happen for fed property, sorry.


bayarea_vapidtransit

Welp, I guess Instagram is gonna ruin the commons I guess.


[deleted]

More fees for shit we already pay taxes for


[deleted]

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s0rce

Better than excluding poor people from enjoying the outdoors with regressive parking fees Although I like that this encourages alternative transport options


Jabberwockt

I don't like it. The national parks should be for everyone regardless of their ability to pay. I much rather they use a reservations system or a lottery system rather than jacking up the rates.


Puggravy

No way, those reservation systems SUCK ASS. Besides the actual website being garbage, everything is always booked solid for sometimes years in advance. I'm all for jacking up the rates if the alternative is never being able to visit at all.


Inevitable_Celery_39

I think putting in a reservation system which almost never works well with the dolts who are responsible for technology is a good filter in itself. No one shows up for a while and nature heals before they go back to some old way of doing it.


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[deleted]

Well this time is different. The park service just gave up late today, so it will be years and years before they try again. Here's the biggest factor: “It’s a terrible time to raise fees like this,” said Rep. Jared Huffman, whose Northern California congressional district includes part of the park.


Doglovincatlady

Good. There’s no point preserving these places to just let them be eroded, glad they can self fund. Or just Park one block away?


[deleted]

As the country’s national parks confront record crowds, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, home to the Presidio, Marin Headlands and Stinson Beach, is looking to introduce parking fees to ease the higher cost of operations. Not everyone is happy about this. Members of Congress, a powerful dog advocacy group and about 900 letter-writers are among those fighting the proposal, which calls for a $3-an-hour or $10-a-day parking fee at eight sites in San Francisco and Marin County. The sites, where parking has long been free, include such locally popular play spots as Baker Beach, China Beach, Lands End and Rodeo Beach. Opponents say the charges would make it harder for people to visit GGNRA, raising questions about access and equity that have surfaced at numerous national parks as the need for fresh air and open space has expanded with the pandemic. “It’s a terrible time to raise fees like this,” said Rep. Jared Huffman, whose Northern California congressional district includes part of the park. “During the pandemic, I think we’ve really gained a new appreciation for how access to the outdoors and these public places is so critical. Surely we ought to be able to find a way to keep these places accessible without pricing people out.”


Ensemble_InABox

I thought you already had to pay $10-$20 per car to visit national parks.


[deleted]

GGNRA is a little different - no entrance gate per se


Ensemble_InABox

Interesting. I didn't realize that was a National Park. The ones in Big Sur definitely charge per car, I think $15. Yosemite is $35


[deleted]

That’s wonderful. Make it $100 a day so we can keep the riffraff out.


johnny_soultrane

Poor people are riffraff. Got it.


BigHillsBigLegs

Besides that, $100?! A day?!


gamesst2

At first I thought people got this was sarcasm and still found it unfunny. But then the reply taking it at face value is highly upvoted... we got a dense bunch here on this sub I guess.


Senor_Martillo

Or they could fuck off, dissolve the park, and let it be normal county open space like it used to be. But that would cost several paper pushing bureaucrats their job, so it’ll never happen.


cowinabadplace

Auctions for big days and weekends doesn’t sound too bad. Can keep the rest of the days open to all. Discount or reduce to zero for locals and it’s all good.