A Stamford resident recently commented to one of my blog posts about the pricing of access for non-residents to our beaches. Another Stamford resident (quite possibly the same person, because the points raised were very similar) wrote a letter to the editor on the same topic. I’d like to examine some of the points raised, this isn’t the first time I’ve heard them.
In both the comment and the letter to the editor the Stamford resident indicated they would be re-thinking their shopping in Greenwich because of our beach access attitude.
First, the letter writer referred to the $20 parking fee as “unreasonable.” That’s exactly what Stamford charges to park.
Also worth noting is that Stamford, just like Greenwich, had a history of not allowing non-residents to use their beaches. Prior to the infamous Stamford resident suit against Greenwich, Stamford would not allow non-residents to park in their beaches. Oh, you could walk in, but you couldn’t park there. And forget parking just outside the beach and walking in, the neighborhoods all had their own parking permits. Unlike Greenwich, however, Stamford took Federal funds for beach cleanup after storms. And “opened” their beaches to non-residents as long as they could walk from, say, the Stamford train station over to the beach.
Yes, yes, yes our policies are designed to regulate the non-resident visitors. The only reason visitors are allowed in at all is to exercise their free speech. That was the court ruling. It’s the same reason Stamford changed their regulations and now allows non-residents to park.
I’m sorry the letter writer won’t be spending any more money here. I know I shop a lot in Stamford because there are still stores there (e.g., Target, Macy’s) that you can’t find in Greenwich. I’m betting a lot more Greenwich residents shop in Stamford than vice versa. It would be a shame if we all stopped shopping in Stamford because of Stamford’s unreasonable beach parking fee and the fact that, for years, I could never visit Stamford’s beach unless I drove in with a resident (Greenwich used to allow guests to bring in their cars, for free).
Stamford didn’t want non-residents using their beaches any more than Greenwich did so please stop bashing Greenwich. It’s getting old.
All good points, except they are mostly in past tense.
Stamford doesn’t have these restrictive policies anymore. Anyone can go to the park, and that’s great. Not quite so in Greenwich.
Stamford residents are not organizing to make it harder for non-residents to use the parks. Greenwich residents are.
In Stamford you have to pay to get in, but we don’t make you enjoy a segregated line. Greenwich makes you drive at least 2.8 miles away from the ferry dock (on a weekend, that is) to buy a day pass for the Island Beach. Oh, that is AFTER you pay your $20 parking fee.
And really, the fees are not the issue here. The obvious attitude is.
Comment by Stamford Resident — August 24th, 2010 @ 8:25 pm
Add the fact that Stamford passed up the chance to have a beach 4 times longer than our Point in the late 60′s when the wooden boat industry crashed. Instead the went through a “favored developer” route tho “enhance revenue”.
Comment by Peter Alexander — September 6th, 2010 @ 12:13 pm
1) because stamford lets anyone on their beach, it has turned into a dump
2) greenwich residents live there and pay their taxes for the access top a nice, clean, safe beach. if someone in stamford loves the greenwich beach so much, they should move to the town and pay taxes just like me!
3) the stamford residents could always go north to westport or fairfield…..oh, wait. they charge for beache access as well.
Comment by Greenwich Resident — September 17th, 2010 @ 2:46 pm