Community Corner
Summer Park Freebie & Deals In Marin County
Fees reduced at three popular sites and admission free at an area pool. Happy summer!
MARIN COUNTY, CA – Good news for park-goers in Marin County!
This summer, Marin County Parks is slicing in half fees at three popular facilities starting July 1, and the admission for the McNears Beach Park pool will be free starting Aug. 1.
Summer weekend and holiday vehicle parking fees have been $10 at McNears Beach Park, Stafford Lake Park near Novato and Paradise Beach Park on the Tiburon Peninsula.
Find out what's happening in San Rafaelfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The Marin County Board of Supervisors this month adopted a resolution to amend the fee schedule and cut the cost to $5, according to county officials, adding that it was a follow-up move to the board’s May 7 recommendation after the results of the agency's resident survey earlier this year.
“The survey gave us tangible evidence that we need to prioritize access to our parks for all residents, regardless of their financial situation,” said Max Korten, director of Marin County Parks. “It was clear that the entry fees were a barrier for many people. Parks are special places where visitors can connect with the natural world, and this amendment to our fee schedule is another way to assure facility access to everyone.”
Find out what's happening in San Rafaelfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Fee reductions can be traced to Measure A, a quarter-cent retail transactions and use tax, otherwise known as the Marin Parks, Open Space, and Farmland Preservation Transactions and Use Tax Ordinance of 2012, that included a promise to reduce park facility entry fees. Starting in 2015, the fees for walk-ins and bike-ins was eliminated and the summer weekday park entry fees were reduced.
About 12,300 drivers paid the $10 entry fee at the three parks in 2018. The parks department estimates about $100,000 less will be collected annually with the fee reductions and free pool admission. If necessary, funds from Measure A would be used to make up for lost revenue – a use consistent with the funding restrictions of the countywide ordinance, officials said.
Read more about the area parks at www.marincountyparks.org.
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