Alternate beach parking plan needed
To the editor:
Sanibel and Captiva are my happy place. I was saddened when Hurricane Ian hit the islands last September, but so excited to learn about how much rebuilding is taking place each day. With much anticipation, I look forward to reading the Islander-Reporter as soon as it arrives in my mailbox to find out about the progress being made.
I’ve vacationed on the islands many many times and was so looking forward to my next vacation on Sanibel. Unfortunately, it does not look like Sanibel after Ian is the same happy and friendly place I’ve known for close to 50 years.
The new beach parking system that requires use of a smartphone to pay for hourly parking is not tourist-friendly. Everyone does not have a smartphone or feel comfortable with the use of technology on a mobile device.
Please consider an alternate way for non-smartphone users to pay for hourly parking that does not require the purchase of a $300 parking lot permit by a tourist who only needs to pay to park for a few hours for a once-a-year vacation.
Possibly you could permit people without a smartphone to pay to park for a few hours at the beach at the SanCap Chamber’s Visitor Center, Sanibel Police Department, City Hall or Sanibel Recreation Center. Maybe a grocery store or other business could collect the parking fees from tourists as another idea. A paper receipt could be given out to show proof of hourly payment that could be displayed on the dashboard.
Please consider these ideas for payment of an alternate hourly beach parking fee that is accessible for everyone and proves that Sanibel is still a tourist-friendly destination for everyone.
Phyllis M. Miller
Beaumont, Texas