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The city of Fishers is planning to cut its parking fee in half for nonresidents during this year’s summer beach season at Geist Waterfront Park.
The Fishers Board of Public Works and Safety on Tuesday approved a new parking fee structure that lowers the daily price from $50 to $25 for visitors who live outside the city. Nonresidents also will be able to pay at the gate, unlike last year when they were required to pay in advance.
The parking fee resolution will move to the Fishers City Council for final approval. The City Council’s next scheduled meeting is April 15. The Fishers Board of Public Works and Safety consists of three members: Mayor Scott Fadness and his two appointees, Jeff Lantz and Jason Meyer.
Parking fees for nonresidents will apply to individual vehicles regardless of the number of occupants.
Fishers residents will continue to receive free parking at Geist Waterfront Park. This year, they will be asked to show a driver’s license at the gate, while in 2023, they used a digital pass through an app called Openpath.
Mayor Scott Fadness said at Monday’s meeting that the city will continue to monitor the parking situation at the park.
“Obviously, we were concerned about attendance levels opening year. Those numbers didn’t hit where we were worried they were going to hit,” Fadness said. “This year, we’re going to try it a little differently, and then if we have to adjust accordingly, we will if for some reason the population spikes out there and we’re not able to manage it from a safety perspective or parking capacity.”
A total of 7,254 entries (individual vehicles with any number of passengers, bicycles and people walking in) passed through the gate at Geist Waterfront Park between Memorial Day and Labor Day last year, according to numbers provided by the city. The city did not track the number of entries during non-beach season when the gates were open.
Last year, the city expected more than 150,000 people would visit the park during beach season.
Fishers residents and people who live outside the city will be able to swim for free at the park during beach season, which will run from May 25 to Sept. 2. Parking fees will not be charged until beach season begins.
Lifeguards will be on duty during beach season from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The 70-acre park along Geist Reservoir debuted last spring after three years of construction. The park at 10811 Olio Road features a 100-yard-long beach along a cove with a channel connecting the cove to Geist Reservoir.
The park was designed by Indianapolis-based Browning Day and was planned to be built in three stages. City officials expect the park to be fully complete by 2040.
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So they spent 30mm on a park and realized their own citizens are barely using it, and are now trying to make it slightly less price gouging for non-residents of the city to use the facility?
Indy should just start charging 3x rate for non-residents to use our sports stadiums, concert venues, museums, and parks (which would be stupid)
You’re late.
Non Indianapolis residents are already paying for our sports stadiums
that also se4ve as concert venues. It’s called the inflated food and
beaverage tax.
The park is horrible. People don’t even want to get in the water because it’s stagnant and algae covered. Fishers really screwed the pooch on this one.
They have to fix the water quality at Geist first. A good start would be educating residents along the reservoir shore that their lawn fertilizer is causing algae and e coli blooms that are making them sick when they swim. But then there’s still the upstream pollutant sources (e.g. pig farm runoff, failing septic systems) that the state legislature at best ignores and at worst legislates to NOT regulate.
So…. good luck with that e coli beach, Fishers:
https://www.wrtv.com/news/public-safety/geist-waterfront-park-beach-closed-to-swimmers-due-to-high-e-coli-levels
https://www.indystar.com/story/news/environment/2023/01/30/indiana-general-assembly-ignores-environment-public-health-bills-year-after-year/69833407007/
Still $25 too high. … 3.2 Stars on Google Maps, surprised Fadness’ PR team isn’t seeding reviews yet to pump those numbers 🤣
Fadness is a tool
Hamilton County Resident, but not a Fishers resident. Entry fees for Indiana State Parks are $7 with IN State License Plate / $9 for Non IN plates. $50 is ridiculous, $25 is outrageous. I would rather go to any IN State Park before I would set foot inside this Geist Park.
I would drive by frequently and see more life guards on duty than guests. No one asked for a beach on Geist, but they built it anyway. I wouldn’t swim there if they paid me $25.
People wanted sidewalks connecting their neighborhoods to other areas.
Never been there and never will be – I’m a Fisher resident. The E. coli levels in Geist Reservoir are off the charts – you are asking for an infection if you get in the water with any type of break in your skin. Don’t put yourself at risk!!!
Yet another nitwit decision by a place that can’t decide what it wants to be, led by an idiot.
ditto to all above!!! Park could have been special….pool and other kid and family friendly attractions. I guess there’s something about ecoli that some people have a problem with. Lastly, folks that go to various coastal locations for spring break, summer vacation, etc. aren’t likely to fine the “beach” at Geist all that inviting.
I went with my kid once and it was disgusting. I wouldnt let them close to the algae covered water. The playground is tiny and the “nature trails” were covered in downed branches and weeds. As a Fishers resident I was embarrassed. I sent an email to the mayor and parks department laying out my concerns. To their credit they did respond that they know about the shortcomings and are working to remedy them. But my goodness….$30 mil for the product that was delivered is a tough pill to swallow.
I’m hopeful they can come up with some solutions. But in the meantime, the price should be ZERO to get in.
People complained about not having a park on Geist, so Fadness built one. The thought was since Fishers people are paying for it, overcrowding was a concern. A person could always walk in free. The liberals pulled out the race card & inclusion card. Now the parking fee is less and more complaining. It goes to show no matter what, some people complain.