DANA POINT : Harbor Assn. Adds Free Parking Hours
Starting today, free parking at the Dana Point Harbor will be extended to late afternoons and nights Mondays through Thursdays.
Responding to merchants and customers who criticized a program to install gates and charge for parking, the Dana Point Harbor Assn. in late June returned free parking on a limited basis.
Barbara Lamb, an association spokeswoman, said the latest change--adding more hours of free parking--is an effort to respond to complaints about the pay-to-park policy.
“We’ve been telling people, ‘We’re really not trying to keep you away,’ ” Lamb said.
Last April, gates were installed in the Mariners Village and Dana Wharf parking areas to counter what large leaseholders and restaurateurs considered a serious parking problem.
Studies showed that spaces were being occupied by employees, beach-goers and boaters, along with shoppers. For 21 years, parking at the harbor had been free.
The parking rate of $2 an hour and $18 a day for the lots will continue on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Restaurants, retail shops and sports fishing docks offer various validations for free parking.
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