Inflation touches everything. Even beach parking.
The Village of Empire voted June 26 to raise parking fees at Empire Beach from $1 to $2 per hour at the busiest beach in Leelanau County after a 4-3 vote at a regular meeting. Empire President Sue Palmer, and trustees March Dye, Meg Walton, and Chris Webb all said yes, while trustees Maggie Bacon, Tom Rademacher, and Linda Chase voted no.
The rates will most likely go into effect next year as Empire does not have material to change signage this summer.
According to a parks committee document by Dye, they received permission from the Michigan FNR Grants Management Office to raise the fee to $2 per hour.
The board sparred over this topic intensely and whether to send it to their attorney for clarifi cation.
“It’s never been clear what this money will be used for ... this is a money grab,” Bacon said.
Dye responded saying the funds would be for maintenance of the park, future parking repavement, and other projects related to other parks in the village.
“The beach is still free, what you are paying for is convenience. You don’t have to pay to use the beach,” Walton added.
Empire has not changed the cost for 10 years, and every year the $1 fee has remained profitable for the village.
Cost of maintaining Empire Beach (yearly): parking meters ($1,000), paper and supplies ($350); credit card fees ($2,258); digital fees ($450); beach ambassadors ($14,892); parking lot striping ($1,900); supervision and office support ($6,000); DPW cleaning ($1,400); DPW general parking lot support ($2,000) for a total expenditures of $30,250.
Parking fees revenue in 2023 calculated $40,600.
Assuming that 2025 summer traffic will be the same, Empire could bring in as much as $80,000.
A one-car family could spend as much as $20 over 10 hours.
According to Empire’s beach ordinance, a township or village resident can receive up to five parking passes per household.
You can park at Johnson Park and walk for free.
