THUNDER BAY -- If it were up to 99 of the 100 people who attended Thursday's public consultation over proposed changes to parking at Marina Park, city administration would put its park parking plan in park.
The proposed plan would see a three-hour time limit imposed on parking at the waterfront as rates and times would be consistent with the 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. business district schedule.
It suggests long-term parking could exist in the park's south end and free parking for trucks with boat trailers could be established near the pumping station.
The response of the public that was jammed into Marina Park's Mariner's Hall was nearly unanimous.
"There's nothing to interpret," said city development and emergency services general manager Mark Smith after the consultation.
"The vast majority of people who attended the meeting this evening oppose the notion that folks should have to pay to park down here."
Smith said parking management at the waterfront isn't currently necessary but the city is preparing for 2018 when the Delta-Mariott Hotel's construction is complete and other commercial activity is expected to increase.
"One of the things we need to make clear is that there's no such thing as free parking," Smith said.
"There's a cost to provide parking and the question is, who should pay for it? Should parking be paid for through general revenues --- and that's certainly an option -- or should parking be paid for by those who use it?"
Coun. Paul Pugh sits on the Thunder Bay Parking Authority Board. Although he hasn't made up his mind on where he stands, he takes issue with setting a precedent on paid parking in public parks.
"That's definitely a concern. You have to factor it all in but that would definitely be something to be concerned about. So far, we haven't charged for any of the parks," Pugh said.
Patty Bates was a founding member of the Friends of Marina Park, a group that resisted the move to declare the land surplus where condominiums now stand and the hotel is being constructed. She has been observing the Waterfront Development Committee ever since and said her fears are becoming realized in the park's increasing exclusivity.
"It's 10 years this year that the surplus declaration was made and here we are 10 years later and we get the feeling we're not as welcome in the park anymore," she said.
"We paid 65-million bucks to renew Marina Park and now I'm getting the feeling we're not so welcome."
The meeting was thick with members of the boating community including Doug Irwin, who's worried about the effect the unpredictable lake will have on proposed time limits.
"The problem we will find is that we have family, we have friends that come down and they can't park on that pier. they'll have to park in that parking lot and they'll have to pay," Irwin said.
"If there's a two or three hour limit and we're out on the lake -- and it's unpredictable -- it could be absolutely flat. We have to come back in for our three-hour time limit and if we don't, everybody's getting a $25 ticket."
Maurice Rubenick uses the park with a different kind of unpredictability. Rubernick represents seniors with disabilities on the Thunder Bay Accessibility Committee. He already has issues parking his van in the available disability parking spots at Marina Park and using his wheelchair over the winter months.
He said time limits would cause stress for the elderly and disabled, calling it an issue of mental well-being.
"If I pay my ticket and I pay for two hours, how far do I go down the trail and it takes me time to get back to get there at the right time. Always in the back of the head with the fear of getting a ticket."
Only Michael Sobota spoke in favour of metered parking at the waterfront. He argued those who use the park should pay for parking and dismissed concerns over most people equating park access with vehicle transportation.
"I'm a little frustrated by people thinking a three-hour limit might deprive them from using the space. I didn't come here with a car. I didn't need a car to get here. I'm not a young guy but I can get just about anywhere in the city without a car," he said.
"We are parking obsessed in this city."
The city has issued an online survey to gather public opinion. It will be available until Mar. 17.
