On December 23, the OGCMA expressed its official opinions in the local news (Asbury Park Press) about parking in the Grove. We responded that day on Blogfinger (scroll down)
So what started out as a project by the Better Parking Alliance (BPA) has evolved into a free-for-all after the Township Committee hacked it to death and now, after the CMA, uncharacteristically, went public in the paper with their self-indulgent parking opinions.
So, once you have stuck your heads out the window to yell, you may comment here about the CMA’s opinions and/or about anything parking related. That topic is the gift that keeps on giving, even after Christmas.
And since everybody’s talking again about parking, here is Harry Nilsson from Midnight Cowboy:
Just buy a house with a driveway and you won’t have a parking problem. And keep in mind that periodically someone will block a part of your driveway, which is SO ANNOYING !
Jean Louise – Perfectly said
BLOGFINGER: “… should be primarily about the lives of those who live in the Grove. Everything else is secondary.”
You hit the nail on the head. 👍
Well, it’s time for the Organizers, to take off their rose colored glasses, put on their thinking caps and realize, “You can’t put 20 pounds of potatoes in a 5 pound bag.”
It’s as simple as that.
Jean Louise: Here’s the problem with those mega-events. For one thing, some of them last for an entire weekend as with the CMA. Others may last for only one day, but those occupy entire Saturdays in prime season, causing chaos for most weekends.
And it wouldn’t be so bad if we only had one or two giant events each year, as in other Shore towns (eg Belmar), but I counted 10 large events during prime time in one OG season, ruining half of 10 desirable weekends. That is too many.
We have craft shows, July 4, flea markets, Camp Meeting Week, Bridgefest, car shows, Harvest Festival, Choir festival, Mary’s fund raisers,house tours, and spill-overs from Asbury Park big events.
There are too many in such a small and crowded location, and they are an imposition for those who reside in the Grove. When do the residents get to enjoy their small town in season?
And there are the beach-goers invasions. Of course, all Shore towns have that, but other towns keep some control by discouraging parking, as with Asbury meters, and/or providing other parking as in Seaside Heights with their parking lots and Long Branch with their parking garage for the public.
What is done in Ocean Grove to help with the parking situation? There is nothing. The players in town which cause the congestion concern themselves only with encouraging more tourism.
Can’t we reduce these numbers? Just pick a few of them to receive permits. Why should the Neptuners care, they are not inconvenienced by any of this?
What other Shore town has nearly as many giant street clogging-street closing events?
If those mega-events were limited, our parking issues would become more tolerable.
And, just to add to the topic, if you have a summer booklet from the CMA events all season, you should count them, because they add up to a huge number, and although most of them are small, those small numbers do add up to people and parking.
And one more suggestion: Why not conduct the flea markets, the 5K runs, car shows, and the craft shows at some out of town venues, such as a football stadium or large parking lot nearby.. The crowds would come for those, and the parking would be much easier for everyone.
We saw that in Chester, Asbury Park, Farmingdale, Rhinebeck, and in Fort Myers, Florida where such events are successful in out of the way non-residential locations, and the towns are just fine; and it would also be better for the businesses in the Grove.
And yes Jean, the new North End will be an albatross for the rest of town.—Paul @Blogfinger.
The Mega events in town are here for a day or two. But, approving the North End Development boggles my mind. Where will all the hundreds of visitors park?
Well, maybe by then residents will all have permits, tickets will be issued, tires will be booted or towed away..etc,etc,etc…
Ocean Grove will become a City, not a quaint, historic, charming Town.
I am not a supporter of Mayor Rizzo’s decision to approve the North End.
As we have often said, the parking debate is about more than where to park cars in town. Instead, it should be primarily about the lives of those who live in the Grove.
Everything else is secondary: Bringing in thousands of tourists during the peak season for what? Why is that necessary when tourism inhibits and chokes the life styles of residents?
And why is a religious organization allowed to have so many uninhibited events, large and small—where are the small scale community programs with space and breathing room for those who live here and for their families and friends?
Where is community planning by Neptune so that the Historic District lives up to the Master Plan utilizing a fair permit process which could offer a balanced playing field for Ocean Grove’s residents and its varied factions—- not just for a few favored power centers?
A few of us have been sticking our heads out the window and yelling “I’m mad as hell about parking, Wesley Lake, and the North End,” but the only response from the Township is, “Call the police and have them removed; their 5 minutes is up”.
But the police are here to “serve and protect” us, not the law breakers on the Township Committee.