Jake Reardon McSoley, Director of Recreation and Wellness for the City of Fishers, presented a proposal to lower the nonresident parking fee for Geist Waterfront Park during the summer season from $50 a day parking fee charged last year to $25 a day in 2024.  The Board of Public Works and Safety approved the proposal Tuesday.  The measure now goes to the Fishers City Council for final approval.

Last year, the $50 per day nonresident parking fee was charged from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, what Reardon McSoley describes as “beach season.”  That is the time of year the city staffs the beach area with lifeguards and other personnel.

Reardon McSoley told the board the $25 per day nonresident parking fee this year will be charged “during peak hours.”  He did not specify when the peak hours would be.

Mayor Scott Fadness says there no longer will be a requirement to use the city phone app to enter the parking area for city residents.  The gate will be staffed and residents only need to show their driver’s license to enter the parking area free of charge.  Nonresidents paying the fee to park may pay the $25 fee in cash, with the city no longer requiring nonresidents to pre-pay the parking fee.

“We will continue to monitor this,” Fadness says.  “Obviously, we were concerned about attendance levels opening year, those numbers didn’t hit where we were worried they were going to hit.”  The mayor indicated the city could adjust the fee schedule if attendance numbers fluctuate.