Nearly all harbor plans we have developed have a common issue: there never seems to be enough parking for people who want to access the shore. 

As communities examine ways to address this issue, they need to consider questions such as: 

  • How many people can a coastal site support? The carrying capacity of a coastal access point is not infinite. At some point, the number of people in a coastal area can have significant impacts on the character and natural resources that make a place special. Additionally, impacts to human safety—for example, the ability for lifeguards to successfully do their jobs or boats to navigate—and public health can become an issue. Parking is one way to limit or expand access.  
  • Who should have access to the coast? Many municipalities in Massachusetts have resident-only parking near coastal destinations, prioritizing access for those who live in the community. Some residents argue that they pay the taxes which are used to keep access sites operational, while others argue that resident-only parking unfairly excludes wider access to a public resource. Equity is also a concern because many people cannot afford to live in a coastal community and do not have access to municipal sites. Where passes are available to purchase, the cost may be too high for some. This question also looks at who/what to prioritize when people want to use a limited parking area for different purposes—for example tourists, fishers, and recreational boaters may all want to park in an area that provides access to whale watches, a boat ramp, and a commercial fishing pier. 
  • What’s the best way to use coastal areas? Many parking options are just landward of the shoreline. While this provides easy access for people who might need to carry beach chairs and coolers or unload fishing gear, there may be other ways to use this valuable space. Options might include recreational opportunities, natural areas, housing, commercial and industrial uses, and coastal resilience measures.   

While there is no one-size-fits-all solution to parking challenges, below are some potential strategies.  

  • Public transportation – Public transportation to coastal areas exists in different forms such as buses, shuttles from satellite parking lots or other public gathering places, ferries, and trains. In some cases, there is a need to enhance public awareness about existing public transportation options. Where public transportation is not yet available, a shuttle program might be worth exploring.  
  • Active transportation – Providing bike racks and creating dedicated space for bicyclists and pedestrians offers ways to address parking limitations while also encouraging people to reduce their carbon footprints.  
  • Designated parking for priority activities – In some situations, parking is prioritized for specific activities. For example, parking lots throughout the state have spaces dedicated to members of the commercial fishing community or those towing boat trailers. 
  • Reservation systems – Some places allow people to reserve a specific date and time to visit a beach. While most reservations systems offer day passes, there is potential to provide more time-specific access such as morning and afternoon passes, to increase the number of visitors able to use the parking lot each day. These reservation systems typically require an app or website to operate, and increased parking enforcement may be needed. 

As coastal communities work to address parking limitations, it is important to consider how to best balance parking needs with other factors such as impacts to natural resources, equity, economic development, and climate adaptation strategies. The harbor planning process provides the opportunity for communities to identify their challenges and the most appropriate solutions.