The question of whether to bring in parking fees at nine regional parks, including Elk and Beaver Lake, is going to a Capital Regional District board meeting next month.
At Wednesday’s parks committee meeting, the proposal was referred to the Oct. 11 meeting of the full board of directors without a committee recommendation.
Saanich Coun. Colin Plant, a parks committee member, asked if the fees could be imposed at just one of the parks — such as Elk and Beaver Lake — and if the recommended rates could be altered, and was told yes.
Pay parking is already in effect at Thetis Lake and Sooke Potholes regional parks.
New parking fees would help pay for trestle and regional trail improvements estimated to cost more than $50 million. By 2026, the proposed parking fees would likely bring in about $1.8 million annually, staff said.
Under a staff recommendation, the fee for daily parking would start at $4 next year and rise to $5.50 in 2025 and $7 in 2026.
A seasonal parking pass would cost $30 in 2024, $45 in 2025, and $60 in 2026.
A two-hour pass would be $2.
Fees are proposed for Elk and Beaver Lake, Horth Hill in North Saanich, East Sooke Regional Park, Witty’s Lagoon, Devonian Regional Park and Matheson Lake in Metchosin, Mill Hill in Langford, Sooke Hills Wilderness (the south access), and Sea to Sea Regional Park in Sooke.
The most used of the nine parks is Elk and Beaver lakes, with 1.9 million visits in 2022.
