Dewey May Spare Visitors Some Change

By, Alex Ruoff | Coast Press

DEWEY BEACH — Weekday visitors could see a break in parking costs this summer as town officials could institute free parking three nights a week. The measure, which would make it unnecessary for visitors to feed the meters after 5 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, was proposed in an effort to promote town businesses and events.

“We plan to have movies and bonfires on the beach again this year,” said Commissioner Diane Hanson. “To encourage people to come, we want to give them free parking.”

Sponsored by the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce, Monday movies and Wednesday bonfires are seen as a way to promote tourism and visitation to the area during the week, Hanson said.

Revenue lost would be minimal, she said, as the majority of parking permit and meter income is gained during the weekend.

According to Carol Everhart, the chamber’s executive director, the measure would be a boost for local restaurants and hotels, which have suffered from lagging weekday business.

“The trend nationwide for vacationing families is leaning toward more extended weekend vacations and fewer vacation weeks,” she said. “What that does is slow down weekday visitation.”

Paul Bauer, a Dewey Beach property owner, said he’d support a measure to alleviate parking as he’s seen a drop in attendance in recent years.

“I think it would be a good reprieve to be able to not worry about parking” he said. “They can’t be making much money during those days, so it couldn’t hurt.”

Commissioners are also expected to consider assisting the chamber in funding the movies and bonfires this summer, she said.

“I think, especially now, we need to encourage families and individuals to come,” Hanson said.