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Groups of people hang out at Lakeside Beach Thursday, July 9, 2020, in Port Huron. Despite the coronavirus pandemic, parking pass sales show that the beaches have seen an increase in the number of people going to them over last year.(Photo: Brian Wells/Times Herald)

The beaches in Port Huron are a lot more crowded this summer than usual.

City officials are crediting the seasons extra sunny weather and the coronavirus pandemic as the leading reasons with, by far, the most visitors coming in from outof town to relax along Lake Huron.

I agree with people. With the pools being closed and with a lot of facilities throughout the county and (state), not just parks and rec," there's less to do, saidNancy Winzer, Port Huron parks and recreation director.

The weather this year, I think its a combo because last year we had a lot of rain early on and it was a bit chillier, she said. All that combined. Its been fabulous out as far as the weather goes. And again, having something for people to do.

Between May 29 and Tuesday this week, theres been 7,147 day parking passes sold to visitors from outside of St. Clair County, which translated into $142,940, at just Lakeside Park. At Lighthouse, where theres a much smaller parking lot and many beachgoers park on neighborhood streets, thereve been 701 passes sold for $7,010.

Both are than twice the numbers for the same period in 2019.

Last year, thered been just 3,411 out-of-county day passes sold at Lakeside and 394 at Lighthouse for $68,220 and $3,940, respectively.

Boats are anchored on Lake Huron off of Lakeside Beach Thursday, July 9, 2020, in Port Huron. Despite the coronavirus pandemic, parking pass sales show that the beaches have seen an increase in the number of people going to them over last year.(Photo: Brian Wells/Times Herald)

Attracting out-of-towners to Blue Water Area beaches has been something local officials have touted in the past. Admitting shes very biased, Winzer said the number of visitors makes sense despite the ongoing pandemic.

Its no shock to me that people would drive here, she said.

On Wednesday afternoon, Katie Fitzgerald was waiting for her family by a vehicle to leave Lakesides beach for the day. She was in from New Mexico, visiting loved ones in Almont in Lapeer County.

I had a great time, it was wonderful, she said of the beach day. She said that she was glad to have been able to visit the park, while also keeping a safe distance from other beachgoers after having some minor reservations because of COVID-19.

Im part of an at-risk population. You can probably tell Im over 65, Fitzgerald said with a laugh. So, when they talked about us coming today, I asked questions about how crowded it was here and whether or not wed be able to social distance. Folks whod been here before assured me.

Groups of people hang out at Lighthouse Beach Thursday, July 9, 2020, in Port Huron. Despite the coronavirus pandemic, parking pass sales show that the beaches have seen an increase in the number of people going to them over last year.(Photo: Brian Wells/Times Herald)

City administrators like Winzer and City Manager James Freed said that, also unlike some years past, theyre getting a lot more beachgoers during the week.

However, Freed said the biggest chunk of parking sales this year has come within the last couple of weeks, particularly because of the July 4 holiday weekend.

It is weird. We wouldnt even really staff the park during the week or we would, but itd be one or two people, he said, after leavingLakeside Park Thursday, where he visited his daughter at the splash pad during a midday lunch break.

According to the city, theres also morecity and in-county residents visiting the beach. There were small anomalies for residents from just Port Huron Township and Fort Gratiot, but the increases, all of which are at Lakeside, from 2019 to this year are as follows:

Overall, there have been 10,439 parking passes sold at Lakeside this year for $153,015,versus last years 6,036 passes for $77,295.

The citys parking rates are free seasonally and daily for Port Huron residents. St. Clair County residents can get a day and seasonal pass for $5 and $35, respectively. Out-of-county day passes are $20.

Carol Poirier, of Fort Gratiot, was still enjoying the beach at Lakeside on Wednesday with her five granddaughters even after a bit of sprinkling rain.

It looked like a major storm was going to come in, she said. It just missed us. We could see it over there. Isnt that funny? We just put everything in the car and then decided to stay a little longer.

Poirier said it was her first time checking out the waterfront park this season.

She said theres not a whole bunch for the kids to do, and that they decided to kill some time with the visit. Like others, she wasnt worried about exposure to COVID-19 because they were outdoors.

Im an essential worker. I work for the Post Office. I havent been off since the pandemic (started), Poirier said. I do feel safe. I think if you do your normal, basic hygiene. Washing hands. Im not worried about it.

Prior to the Memorial Day weekend, the city had prepared its beaches to limit parking capacity and prevent usage of communal amenities like picnic tables and grills.

Once Gov. Gretchen Whitmer began to lift COVID restrictions in June, however, city officials said rules at the beach relaxed. As of the July 4 weekend, there were no limits to parking and amenities. The splash pad, which had been closed, was also in use.

We take a lot of state and federal money, so we checked into this quite thoroughly in what we can and cant do. The governor was very clear about recreational spaces (that could) open, Winzer said.

The parks and rec official said they also work with local authorities and maintain precautions with staff.

Contact Jackie Smith at (810) 989-6270 or jssmith@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @Jackie20Smith.

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Port Huron's beaches are twice as packed with visitors this summer, according to parking pass sales - The Times Herald