Thanks to all for their input. Being that it is $5 for the vehicle and
$5-7.50 for the trailer, that's $10 or $12.50 per day except for canoes
and dinghies would end up being $5.
About 1.5 miles away from the launch is a public beach. Not much of a
place, about 400' of waterfront, on perhaps 3 acres. They have restrooms
with 3 stalls for the women (my wife says) and 2 urinals and 2 stalls
for the men. There's some picnic tables off the beach. There's parking
for about 100 cars, making the parking area as large as the rest of the
park. They do have a lifeguard and the place is fairly clean.
Parking is strictly residents only. They've sold decals ($10 per year)
for a good 300 cars, despite only having 100 spaces. The logic is some
of these people work in town and there is also a residents only parking
lot off the street.
You have to get in early. Anyone can use the beach. There's probably 100
other cars parked near the beach. Half residents, half out of towners.
This has left people with businesses or homes in the area rather miffed.
It is not a thriving area, but a little better than a mud hole.
The point of the honor system sounds good. I used to live in an area
where parking was $1 per day at the bus station, for commuters. It was
on the honor system. People were not paying for the most part.
Eventually parking meters went in and the fee to park was 25¢ per hour,
so commuters like myself had to pay $2.50 per day, plus have the hassle
of having so many quarters...
I also see the point of someone staying 4 days in a row costing $40-50.
In that perspective, it does seem excessive.
I suspect someone sees this as a cash cow for the town (which it may not
be) plus summer/weekend jobs for someone's kids.
I'm still not certain what I'll write or say, but I believe this needs
to be significantly revised before they vote on it.