The no parking restrictions in Long Beach and along Highway 28-29 in the area of Bottle Bay on Lake Minnewaska worked well, according to Pope County Sheriff Tim Riley.

“The area along the highway was clean and there were no issues with parking in that area during the July 4 weekend and holiday,” Riley said last week.

He said he talked with state troopers who patrolled the area and they confirmed that there were no issues with parking or pedestrians walking to the shoreline near “Bottle Bay.”

The no parking restrictions will remain in effect during Glenwood’s Waterama celebration, which is always the last full weekend in July.

The no parking plan came about after a joint meeting with Long Beach Council, the Pope County Sheriff’s Office, the Minnesota State Patrol and DNR Conservation officers.  The area was inundated with cars parking on Long Beach streets from Minnewaska House to Morning Glory Gardens and even along Highway 28-29, which runs past Lake Minnewaska.  Safety and emergency vehicle access to homes in the area were the two major reasons for the no parking zone.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation placed “no parking” signs along the highway and the City of Long Beach posted no parking or stopping signs along its city streets.  The signs will be in effect through July and there will be extra police presence in the area to enforce the parking restrictions during Waterama, it was stated.