Gilford Selectboard approves parking changes, but not at Lincoln Park

GILFORD — Residents spoke out against an amendment to the town’s parking ordinance to require a town decal for Lincoln Park, and the selectboard ultimately voted down that change.

Selectboard members voted 2-1 to approve amendments to the winter parking ordinance, as well as adding a requirement that parking only be permitted at town-owned recreation facilities if the operator is present.

Originally, the parking ban listed in Part A that from Nov. 15 to April 1, it is a violation to park on a public street between midnight and 7 a.m., as well as when there is snow and ice.

The approved amendment clarifies the ban is for public streets or town maintained rights-of-way, and strikes language pertaining to snow and ice.

Part B was added, stating parking is not allowed on a public street or town maintained right-of-way whenever snow or ice is falling or accumulating, or public works winter maintenance operations are occurring or reasonably anticipated, and also when the director of public works or police chief declares a snow or ice emergency.

Also created was Part C, which states the town will provide public notice on the website, social media, and conventional media methods whenever a parking ban is happening.

In 24.4.6, the part of the ordinance for public recreation area parking, an amendment to Part B adds the requirement for the operator of a vehicle or its occupants use town parks, forest recreation facilities, or conservation areas only for their intended purposes, during normal hours. Student parking is also allowed during weekday, daylight hours at the Gilford Village Field lot whenever the gate is open.

The selectboard proposed adding a Part D, which would limit parking at Lincoln Park to only residents with a town sticker, but after hearing concerns from the public, they removed that part from the motion for approval.

“I want to rethink our approach on Lincoln Park,” said Selectboard Vice Chair Chann Eddy.

Eddy was a proponent of that change going into the meeting, based on his observations that the minimal parking spaces there were often taken up for hours by people not using the park. However, several audience members spoke out about why limiting the parking to residents isn’t a good idea, or necessary.

Everett McLaughlin of Belknap Mountain Road monitors the eagles in the area, noting he was part of a group that found a nest on Round Island from Lincoln Park. He also noted staff of the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center study them, and they would need to park there.

“Without a permit, he’s not going to be allowed to be there,” McLaughlin said.

He said Gilford is a spot that welcomes people in the Lakes Region, and to not allow others to take advantage of the spot and the view is “ridiculous.”

“I think a fine is terrible, and I think not allowing parking at Lincoln Park without a permit is terrible,” McLaughlin said.

He also said one of his favorite activities is parking at Lincoln Park and walking Scenic Drive, and thinks others might do the same. He doesn’t feel it should be limited to town residents to enjoy.

Selectboard Clerk Gus Benavides agreed it's a great spot to walk, but while McLaughlin said his walk only takes a half hour, others might walk all the way down to Lakeshore Park and back, taking much longer.

He asked McLaughlin how he would feel if people who are renting housing nearby are using the parking, or if others have visitors leaving their cars for long periods. McLaughlin suggested incorporating a time limit, but then it became a question of enforcement.

Eddy said one of the reasons he proposed the amendment is because he uses Lincoln Park often, and there have been “many, many times” he couldn’t park. Eddy said there are some people who have had visitors who have parked two or three cars there, and he added he caught them doing it “once or twice.”

“There was nobody there, but every parking space was full,” Eddy said.

Eddy said there was one instance where he pulled into the park to see if any of the cars parked there would leave.

“I sat there for five hours, and do you know how many people came to move their cars? Two,” he said. “This isn’t what it is supposed to be for. There are signs that say that they are used for the park, but there are times where I’ve been there for hours, and I’m the only one there, but there are seven cars parked there. Mine is the only one there legitimately.”

Carole and Dan Mullarkey live on Scenic Drive and frequent the park, and both spoke about how they have never seen an issue.

Carole said she was surprised when she saw the information about the proposed amendment in the newspaper. As someone who started going to Lincoln Park in 1993, using the area to sometimes just stop and enjoy the view, she knows it is one of the places that makes Gilford a great spot to live and visit.

“Limiting it to people who are residents feels a bit sad,” she said, adding that in her experience, she has seen parking spaces available often.

Dan said he has been using the park since the 1970s, as his grandparents lived nearby. He likes to birdwatch, saying he knows all about the eagles, and has seen the parking lot full “a handful of times, but only in the summer.

“I have never seen a significant problem there,” he said.

Sandy Morrison concurred with the other speakers, and said cars come and go as people take their walks. In her observations, she has not seen any issues.

“I feel like we’re creating a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist.”

The board voted 2-1, with Chair Kevin Hayes the “nay” vote, to approve each amendment, other than Part D about Lincoln Park.