Get Your New Bedford Beach Passes Now

The City of New Bedford continues preparations for the opening of its public beaches, with the sale of beach parking passes beginning today Monday, June 8, 2015.

The beach parking program, which covers East Beach, West Beach and Fort Taber, requires residents and non-residents to acquire a seasonal parking pass or pay a daily rate for parking.

Seasonal parking passes will be available at the Parks Recreation & Beaches Office at 181 Hillman St., Building 3, at the City Clerk’s Office in City Hall at 133 William St, and at the Traffic Office at the Elm Street Garage downtown.

Seasonal parking passes are $5 for city residents. Residents must bring their vehicle registration to obtain a resident seasonal parking pass.

The City offers seasonal parking passes to non-residents from surrounding communities for $20. Residents from Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Westport, Mattapoisett, Marion, Rochester, Acushnet, Freetown, Lakeville and Taunton are eligible. Non-residents from communities other than these are able to purchase seasonal parking passes for $50.

Day passes can be obtained beginning June 27, 2015 at the East Beach parking lot and at Fort Taber. Residents with a New Bedford address on their driver’s license pay $1 for a one-day parking pass for parking at East and West Beaches, and $5 for a one-day parking pass for parking at Fort Taber. Non-residents pay $10 for a one-day parking pass.

The City of New Bedford encourages everyone to come and enjoy the sparkling waters and the clean, safe, family-friendly beaches of New Bedford. East Beach this summer will feature new improved beach volleyball courts as well as a newly-formed Adult Recreation Beach Volleyball League. West Beach is a swimmers haven with an accessible pavilion providing shade, cool breezes, beautiful sunsets, and a fully accessible bath house. Fort Taber boasts sweeping views of New Bedford Harbor and Buzzards Bay in historic, Fort Taber Park.

Beaches are guarded by a professional waterfront team from June 27, 2015 through Sept. 7, 2015.