POUGHKEEPSIE – An event at Waryas Park in Poughkeepsie on Sunday has resulted in complaints from boaters trying to reach the boat ramp as well as neighbors in the surrounding area.
Hundreds of cars were observed parked Illegally on the road leading to the Waryas Park boat ramp as well as cars blocking traffic on many streets that intersect with Main Street below Columbus Drive.
One boater who lives in Poughkeepsie attempted to use the ramp but was unable to navigate to it due to the cars parked on both sides of the access road, forcing him to abandon his planned day of boating.
Another boater called the City of Poughkeepsie Police to report the cars parked illegally where he was seeking to launch his boat and park his vehicle and trailer.
There are approximately 10 parking spots in the upper lot at Waryas Park that are designated by signage indicating that the spaces are to be used only by vehicles towing boat trailers. On Sunday afternoon,several vehicles were observed without trailers parked illegally in the designated spots.
A City of Poughkeepsie police officer was seen issuing parking tickets to the non-boating cars. Radio traffic indicates that 10 vehicles were issued tickets to for parking illegally.
A late-arriving boater told Mid-Hudson News that he was angered. “I know that the festival has a permit for the park and that’s great. What bothers me is that I own a home in this city and my taxes include my right to use the boat launch – and I can’t even get to it,” he exclaimed while standing next to his trailered boat on a neighboring street. Choosing to remain anonymous, the man, with his family in the truck, added, “Unfortunately there is no one down here enforcing the parking regulations. Cars are all over the place.”
City officials did not immediately respond to a request for an explanation for the lack of parking enforcement.
