Purgatory Chasm in Sutton, Massachusetts.
New parking fees at Massachusetts state parks are receiving mixed reviews from park visitors, according to an article on Telegram.com.
While parks that have had parking fees saw an increase in those fees this year, other parks that have historically been free now have a $5 fee for state residents.
Parking fees began June 11 at Purgatory Chasm in Sutton, Massachusetts, part of new state Department of Conservation and Recreation regulations passed in the waning days of Governor Deval L. Patrick’s administration. According to the article, the response from the public to the fees at Purgatory Chasm, which had never charged for parking previously, has ranged from acceptance to annoyance to outrage, particularly on social media.
Parking fees for a car at “scenic and historic areas,” such as Purgatory Chasm, are $5 per day for Massachusetts residents and $6 for out-of-state vehicles. Inland beaches are $8 for in-state residents and $10 for out-of-state. A state park pass nearly doubled to $60 for in-state residents from the previous $35 fee, with an $85 fee for nonresidents.
Read about reactions to Massachusetts’ new parking fees at state parks.