I appreciate the efforts of the Lewes Beach Parking Committee, Mayor Becker and members of Lewes City Council to address concerns about the safe and responsible use and enjoyment of Lewes Beach. Lewes Beach is a wonderful community asset which needs to be protected for everyone’s enjoyment going forward, residents and visitors alike.
The City of Lewes needs to take action, just as our neighboring beach communities have done for years, to issue parking passes during the high-demand summer months for those who drive to the beach. Safe, delineated parking is a public safety issue which must be addressed; protect all who bike, walk, run and otherwise enjoy Lewes Beach. Further, Lewes Beach has a finite capacity and should not have to be a free alternative to cars that are turned away from Cape Henlopen State Park or the public beach lot when they reach capacity. To visit our lovely beach is well worth a nominal fee in high season, consistent with what’s required for visitors to park and access other public beaches in Lewes, Cape Henlopen State Park or other communities.
Like most of us I suspect, I would rather not have parking permits during the summer months. However, the last few summers, the problems of out-of-control parking, crowded beaches, obstructed intersections, and unsafe roadways have only grown. Lewes needs to take action to eliminate the hazards that result, making it dangerous for visitors and residents alike. Further, just as in CHSP and the other public beaches, parking decisions should be based on an understanding of a finite capacity for the safe, environmentally responsible enjoyment of Lewes Beach now and for generations to come.
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