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.

>>>MORE: Mayor Walsh declares heat emergency in Boston ahead of hot & humid weekend

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

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