REVERE — The last of the pay-to-park signs along Revere Beach came down Friday, thus marking the end of the battle against paid parking on the beach.
The Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR) removed all parking-meter signage from Revere Beach, because of a law passed through the leadership of state Representatives Jeffrey Turco (D-Winthrop) and Jessica Giannino (D-Revere).
“Today is a great day for Revere,” said Turco in a statement. “The signage coming down marks the end of a long, difficult, but crucial fight to right an obvious wrong. It is only right that parking should be free on Revere Beach, the first public beach in the United States of America.
Turco said the end of parking meters means Revere Beach is now free for everyone, regardless of their economic status.
“I am thrilled that signs are being removed and Revere Beach will once again be free to park at,” said Giannino.
The parking meters around Revere Beach were installed last year at more than 1,000 parking spaces to raise state revenue. DCR then removed 200 metered spots, making them 24/7 resident-parking only.
The Revere community resisted the idea of paid parking on America’s first public beach. According to residents, DCR made the decision in the middle of a public-health crisis, and community leaders and activists were not notified and had no opportunity to provide input on the matter.
Rallies against the parking meters on Revere Beach were held for several weeks. The residents claimed that a lot of visitors were coming to enjoy the beauty of Revere, and not all of them were comfortable paying the parking fee of $1.25 an hour, which was enforced from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. during the beach season.
“The surrounding communities are not wealthy communities,” said Revere City Councilor George Rotondo. “This is our Cape Cod, and more importantly, we love it.”
DCR stopped charging for parking at Revere Beach in October last year after an emergency law passed on Beacon Hill, despite the governor’s attempt to veto it. The law (Section 42 of H.4002) prohibited DCR from charging for beach parking and from installing the meters on department-owned roads — such as along Revere Beach — without approval from local officials.
Another law also passed, requiring DCR to share half the revenue it collected with Revere. The governor failed to veto that bill as well.
“That was very gracious of DCR,” said Rotondo.
He said that many Revere seniors and people from outside the community come to Revere Beach to enjoy its beauty.
“Representatives Turco and Giannino worked diligently to ensure that the public, and more importantly the people of Revere, are not maltreated or overtaxed,” said Rotondo. “The issue here is that we are America’s first public beach for our working-class people.”
“Revere Beach is America’s first public beach,” added Giannino. “It is so important that it remains free and accessible as it always has been for families and locals to continue to enjoy for generations to come.”
