Resident-only parking near Gloucester beaches

GLOUCESTER, Mass. — New parking restrictions meant a less crowded Good Harbor Beach on Saturday. Those restrictions come a week after concerns were raised by residents and the city stepped in to change parking regulations near and at beaches by emergency order.

“The parking lot was crazy,” said Kathy Roberts of Gloucester about her trip to the beach a week ago.

Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken deemed the overcrowding a public safety issue and moved to restrict parking to just residents across nearly three dozen streets in Gloucester.

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Police handed out 478 parking tickets the weekend of July 11 and 12, according to a news release. For the weekend beginning Saturday, July 18, the city stepped up enforcement with police and Rangers at local beaches, such as Good Harbor, along with extra signs leading to beaches.

“It’s a shame,” said Matt Calvey of Boston.

Calvey visited Good Harbor Beach with a friend on Saturday but not with the use of a car. They took the MBTA from Boston’s South End, then rode bikes the rest of the way. Before, they had come to Good Harbor in a car driven by a different friend; that is no longer an option.

“We have this small window of opportunity to enjoy the outdoors, get out and enjoy the sunlight and I think people need to take it,” Calvey said.

The mayor’s office said the parking change is seasonal and temporary, though Ward Councilors, she said, would work to make it permanent.

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The following streets are impacted:

Hartz Street
Tolman Street
Williams Court
Harrison Avenue
Eastern Avenue, the easterly side from Hartz Street to Abbott Road
Eastern Avenue, the southerly side from its intersection with Williams Court in an easterly direction to its intersection with Hartz Street
Elizabeth Road
Abbott Road
Marina Drive
Loma Drive
Puerto Drive
Rio Drive
Cabo Drive
Brightside Avenue
Traverse Street
Farrington Avenue
Edgemoor Road
Stage Fort Avenue
Beachmont Avenue
Tolman Avenue
Crowell Avenue
Old Salem Road
Hough Avenue
Windsor Lane
Witham Street
Fenley Road
Cedarwood Road
Dornell Road
Bond Street
Marshfield Street
Cross Street
Decatur Street
Sayward Street