Use of pavilions, tents will now be charged
The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation would starts assessing fees and security deposit for the use of Commonwealth parks and pavilions, recreational facilities and tourist sites and also any tent set up at the beach, portable toilets at any beach, basketball courts, baseball field, and camping at the beach. For any additional information, visit Parks and Recreation at As Perdido Road or call Parks and Recreation at 234-7405.
Companies that rent out tents and tables are encouraged to call Parks and Recreations for more information before setting up at the beach. Park rangers will be patrolling the sites and will be checking for permits. (PR)
Very good idea Eli, it is about time for the freebies era to end and to start earning a living fee for upkeep and other maintenance of the parks and beaches. By all means….
Unbelievable! So now we have to pay to enjoy our beaches. Hmm. Let me think about this. So… let me get this straight. The government will impose a fee for a license just so I can put up a tent (we own or rented) by the beach or utilize the already available PUBLIC pavilions on island. This is pathetic. Going to the beach to celebrate a birthday or special occasion used to be FREE! It is one of the beautiful things about this island. I’m flabbergasted at the thought of this. Next thing you know we will be charged to use the PUBLIC restrooms. Sorry ma’am. That will be $1 to enter, 25 cents per sheet of tissue, and another 75 cents to flush. Oh you need to wash your hands? Please insert 25 cents more for 20 seconds of undependable water. Nonsense.
BTW, other areas DO charge for “public restrooms” and also for tissue.
There is a lessor charge for only pissing. Many airports also charge a coin to access rest room (male) and another to insert a coin in th coin box for the toilet, while change is also collected at the door. this also includes bus terminals, rest stops along highways, parks, and tourist sites.
Supposedly this is to insure that the restrooms are clean and well maintained. Majority of the time they are clean and well maintained
As always, lack of enforcement will come into play. I’m wondering if it is even legal (or ethical) to charge a fee for use of public lands. Maybe this article needs to be more specific? If I go to the Sugar Dock, which I often do, who should I pay and can l get an annual pass?
That’s a good question! This is a sad attempt at increasing revenue for the government.
Ridiculous!
Very much agreed!
So now IF there is a charge for use of the areas, such as sugar Dock etc. a clean up fee AND also a littering ticket can be issued ‘post facto’ for all of the trash left behind.
Also it states that there will be “Rangers hired” to check on the permits. This is also too funny as the cost of the additional employees along with the administrative staff to collect and also to write up “permits” will cost much more than what can be charged unless someone has the ability to figure the actual cost to incorporate, charge and enforce all this accordingly.. .
I would be willing to bet that the actual costs would be much more than what could be reasonably charged to the individual groups or person.
BTW isn’t it illegal to drink alcoholic beverages in the parks? Wasn’t that also at one time on the books? Is it still there?
This sounds as if ths will go the way of the past parking at Charley dock where it cost much more money to collect than what was charged.
This will also make available another account for our elected to find ways to “rob”
Agreed!
No more “Hey, Lets go to the Beach for a BBQ”? Do you get your money back is it rains? Once you pay for the pavilion, how many sq feet around the physical pavilion are you solely entitled to? Do you get reserved parking slots dependent on how much you pay? Is there a time frame that you own the pavilion, 24 hours, noon to noon, etc? If someone has reserved/paid for a pavilion and they cancel, is the pavilion just sit there empty?
I enjoyed reading your comment. I would like to see their newly developed “Standard Operating Procedure” for this ridiculous new idea! This does not look good for whoever thought this would be a brilliant idea. I would like to know full details. So… if someone sits on your rented pavilion without your permission can we press charges for trespassing? Lmao!
To whoevers idea this was (I really hope you are reading this): You.Are.An.Idiot.
I AM LAUGHING SO HARD IT HURTS!!!! I AGREE! ? #idiotALERT
It’s about time for Trash Control. Some beach goers are responsible to pick up after themselves when the party is over. Some just don’t have discipline, trash the place and leave. Some accountability is finally put in place.
I hope Parks and Recs will also provide potable toilets, trash bins for the fee their charging.
This is a brilliant idea. Hopefully the funds are properly used for beautification, upkeep, and maintenance.
The rental fees are supposed to be minimal so I believe to make a point, I will reserve/rent all pavilions at a specific beach area for a month or so and leave them all unused. So if someone is using one of my rented pavilions, what do I do? Call DPS, Take Pictures, what? Oh, and what happens if after you leave the pavilion litter free and someone comes after you left and leaves a mess? Are you responsible?
It would seem that the way this article is written is that BEFORE you arrive and BEFORE you leave a park ranger has to come and inspect the area to “certify” that it is litter free.
THIS I have to see!
So is there a “charge” for basketball and other sport activities use, or is it only if you set up a port-a-poty?
One has to pay to rent a pot-a-poty already so if one has to also pay fro a permit then why rent one, let all go in the bushes.
Wow that’s stupid, for reals! I live here in the states and seriously damn! we pay for literally everything in this place. It’s a money hungry machine. I’m just waiting for them to charge for the amount of times you inhale and exhale for air. Kidding. If I visit home, I ain’t paying no government to see or use the beaches on my native homelands as long as I come there first. Island style baby!. Benlania hao! Enforce the law that’s in place already idiot!
A simple solution, as it seems that the problem that it attempted to be taken care of is the people that “trash” the areas. leaving all of their trash behind.
Every once in awhile the “litter police” comes up and new ones appointed along with so many excuses as to why tickets are never issued.
POST these litter police at each park area where people congregate and BBQ etc. Along with at each tourist spot, all on shifts. Pay them according to the number of tickets they issue. Like a commission basis. When/if the areas are repeatedly cleaned up then “litter police” can be put on a guaranteed salary with commission on the tickets issued.
This will be cheaper than hiring high paying “Park Rangers” while accomplishing the same thing and generating income and teaching the people to pick up after themselves.
BTW, this is not a Chinese thing, the Chinese have only added to the problem.
post the main points of the law or/and post a link.