Swampscott Jockeys For Beach Parking Solution

The selectmen's chairman said he is confident the board will reach a decision at its June 20, meeting on a topic that has sparked considerable debate — beach parking.

The question is this: where will Swampscott residents park their vehicles when they go to Eisman's Beach?

Traditionally residents have parked at Phillips Park and hiked a path from the park to Eisman's. 

But more than 100 spaces at the park are being used to accommodate the sound stage in the Adam Sandler movie.

Two actions that will improve the parking sitution at Phillips are strict enforcement of the beach parking sticker requirement and lot expansion, said Selectmen's Chairman Rich Malagrifa and Recreation Director Danielle Strauss.

The chairman said a police detail officer will admit Swampscott residents with beach parking stickers to the lot.

Others without beach parking stickers will be turned away at the entrance to Bondelevitch Way.

This strict enforcement will take effect after the youth lacrosse season ends, which will be soon.

Malagrifa expects enforcement will free up spaces.

In addition, the recreation director said Columbia Pictures will remove a grassy square and the logs that border it to create additional parking places at the park.

Once this work is complete there should be space for a total of about 45 vehicles to park at Phillips.

Several boats being stored at the park will be moved to Fisherman's Beach for the summer sailing program, Strauss said.

Malagrifa said he expects the board will receive a beach parking recommendation on June 20, from the town Traffic Study Committee.

An idea that was bandied about at the last selectmen's meeting is opening Puritan Road to limited parking. The idea got a cold reception from those who live in that area.

But a few residents in the beach neighborhood have recently volunteered to let people park by their homes.

Selectman David Van Dam said that  may have enough space to meet the parking needs of beach-goers.

Officials have also talked about using a van to shuttle beach-goers from Phillips Park, the chairman said.

The board passed a motion on June 6,  asking the Traffic Study Committee to look at the topic of adequate beach parking with the premise that the board is very concerned about allowing parking on Puritan Road.