Sandy Hook Wants To Raise Parking Fees To $20 A Day

HIGHLANDS, NJ — Gateway National Recreation Area is proposing to increase parking fees in Sandy Hook. These parking rates would go into effect for the summer of 2021.

This would be Gateway’s first parking fee increase since 2012. Sandy Hook is maintained by the National Park Service.

The new proposed 2021 fees at Sandy Hook are:

$20 per day (it is currently $15)

$100 per season (it is currently $75)

$50 per oversize car per day (cars longer than 20 fee; it is currently $30)

$200 per oversize car per season (it is currently $150)

Hours of collection are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Visitors with Senior or Access Passes would be charged half price for parking, as they are currently.

As required by law, the National Park Service will hold a public engagement period on the proposed fee increase, open until October 16, 2020.

Gateway invites you to submit written suggestions, comments and concerns online at Gateway_Feedback@nps.gov.

"Your opinion is important to us," said Gateway in a statement. "We would like to hear from you about this proposal."

“We are committed to keeping the park affordable while providing visitors with the best possible experience,” said Gateway Superintendent Jen Nersesian. “The money from the parking fees will help improve our visitor facilities and services.”

Non-beach services at Gateway, such as access to the Sandy Hook Lighthouse and the historic Fort Hancock post area at Sandy Hook, Floyd Bennett Field and Canarsie Pier in Brooklyn, and Fort Wadsworth in Staten Island, will remain free.

Don't miss a second of Monmouth County and Middletown news. Click here to get Patch emails.

Follow Middletown Patch on Facebook. Have a news tip? Email the Middletown Patch reporter, Carly.baldwin@patch.com