Marion passes new rule limiting Island Wharf green space parking
Select Board members John Hoagland, Randy Parker and Toby Burr passed a restriction on parking in the grass at Island Wharf during a Tuesday, May 19 meeting. Photo by Grace Roche
Select Board members John Hoagland, Randy Parker and Toby Burr passed a restriction on parking in the grass at Island Wharf during a Tuesday, May 19 meeting. Photo by Grace Roche
MARION — The debate over use of the grassy area at Island Wharf has been temporarily settled with new parking restrictions.
The Select Board decided at its Tuesday, May 19 meeting to restrict parking on the green space, implementing a parking ban from noon Monday to noon Friday with special exceptions for events at the Marion Music Hall.
The space has been the topic of controversy over past months, with many residents upset the area intended for recreational use is frequently used for parking instead.
Marine Resource Commission chair Vincent Malkoski said limited parking is a town-wide issue, which must be considered when discussing Island Wharf.
“There is no place in town that has adequate parking — perhaps a senior center, but there's no other place in town that has it,” Malkoski said. “This is a huge issue. This is not just the harbor, this is not just the boaters.”
Many residents attended the meeting to voice their concerns and offer their ideas.
Wendy Rolfe suggested having boaters with large trailers park farther away from the wharf and use a town-run shuttle to the launch site, while Diane Cook said Marion could look at how other coastal towns in the area have addressed similar issues.
Cook said there must be a balance between allowing boaters to use the area while not taking away from residents’ experiences in town.
“The business and the harbor is important to our community, but also the community should be able to shop at Mimi’s, or they should be able to rent the Music Hall and have their friends and neighbors and family park somewhere,” she said.
Select Board members said the new rule is a temporary measure, as they wanted to decide on how people can and can’t use the grassy area before summer — and more people — arrives.
The town’s parking bylaws will be updated to reflect this change, and signs notifying drivers of limited parking hours will soon be posted at the site. Police Chief Richard Nighelli said he is ready to enforce towing for any vehicles that do not comply.
