Town Seeks Alternative Parking For Beach-Goers

Residents accustomed to parking their cars at  and walking to the beach have asked selectmen for help securing alternative spaces.

Many of those spaces at the park, about 130 of the 150 spots, are being used for filming the Adam Sandler movie.

Town Administrator Thomas Younger said the Phillips filming is scheduled to be over July 25.

In the interim, he said he is talking with the police department about finding alternative parking places.

Those who have traditionally used Phillips for beach parking walk a short distance to the ocean taking a path behind the park's bleachers.

Path access remains open, said Town Planner Pete Kane.

The town will receive $248,000 for the temporary lease of town property.

That agreement includes $175,000 for the use of the practice football field and a portion of the parking lot at Phillips Park, as well as the parking lot at the former Temple Israel property on Humphrey Street.

It includes $40,000 for a single day of shooting at Swampscott Middle School.

And it includes $5,000 to the Historical Commission for the use of the train station building.

Movie representatives sought the Phillips Park location after the producer withdrew a plan to build a set on Marblehead's . Marblehead residents were reluctant to forfeit their football field for shooting.

Movie representatives are slated to appear before the Zoning Board of Appeals on Tuesday to seek permits for a large tent-like structure at Phillips Park. Pool scenes are planned for inside the tented building.

The movie production team already has a permit for the building's foundation, which is being constructed from stacked shipping containers.

Half of the movie is expected to be shot in Swampscott with the remaining filming taking place in Marblehead, Saugus and Tewksbury.