HERRIMAN, Utah — Blackridge Reservoir in Herriman can be a crowded place. In the summer, hundreds if not thousands visit on a single day.
"Cars are parked on both sides of the entrance just along the curb, their parked along the garbage cans, their parked in emergency parking," said Tami Moody, Herriman's Director of Administration and Communications. She presented a plan to city councilors on Wednesday night to start charging $10 per day to park in the lot adjacent the reservoir.
"Ten dollars is extremely excessive," said Curtis Brinkroff, a Herriman resident speaking at the public hearing Tuesday night.
In May the city is requiring a $25 parking permit for residents around the reservoir to be able to park on the streets. In addition, some areas have been marked as no parking, to keep visibility clear around corners.
"This is an overreach by the city," said David Watts, another resident at the meeting.
Many who spoke out asked the city to wait and see if the changes, like parking permits, have a big enough impact to solve the problem. There is concern that families with young kids, visiting the park for less than an hour, would be paying the same amount and a large group coming for the day.
Others said enough is enough.
"I think that the parking fee is necessary," said Richard Brimhall. Brimhall says he lives near the reservoir. He's concerned if the city tries to create a staggered fee system for Herriman residents or paying based on how long you stay, it will be a "fiasco".
A decision on the day use parking fee is expected in about two weeks.
