Modiin Residents Want To Charge Entrance Fee To Visitors

A number of Modiin residents have complained that too many people from outside the city have spent the summer vacation coming in and using their parks, specifically the fairly new Park Anabeh with large and open  grassy areas, large swings and slides for kids, and a small lake with paddleboats, and have been making a mess. their complaint is that these people don't pay the local taxes but benefit from the parks, and then leave the city residents with the mess and the expense of cleaning it up. As well, they say the park gets so crowded during vacation time with people from outside Modiin that the local residents don't really get to enjoy it themselves.

Some residents of Modiin have called for the implementation of either an entrance fee to non-residents of Modiin or for paid, and expensive, parking in the immediate vicinity of the park.

The specific non-resident-audience targeted in the campaign has been the haredi visitors. That might be because they go to these parks around the country in large groups, often with fleets of a few buses, as many don't have cars. Either the city or an askan often will arrange buses to different locations and order buses dependent on how many people register. So while all sorts of people are showing up, the haredi visitors become more visible as they are showing up all together in fairly large groups.

In truth, the whole thing is a non-issue. The Facebook group they started to promote their agenda has garnered a total of 8 members. I am told the petition they circulated garnered 60 signatures. The press seems to be making a bigger deal of this than it actually is.

However, regarding the issue itself, I am in favor of charging fees to non-residents. the locals pay with their arnona and other local taxes towards the maintenance and upkeep of the city and parks. The visitors leave a big mess and don't pay anything toward the upkeep. It is not uncommon for cities around the world to charge visitors for using their parks and attractions while allowing residents free access or access at greatly reduced prices. In some places it is even standard.

Despite that, for some reason, in Israel the Supreme Court has already ruled that a city is not allowed to charge a fee to visitors to visit its parks. The parks are public places, and everyone has the right to benefit equally from the parks. one could say it is not equal as the locals pay for the upkeep, albeit indirectly, while the visitors do not, but the direct access has to be equal.

This played out a number of years ago regarding Park Ranaana. Park Ranaana is a beautiful park in Ranaana, with large play areas, open grass, small amusement park, small zoo, and more. They used to charge an entrance fee to non-residents of the Sharon area - Ranaana, Hod HaSharon, etc.

The entrance fee on one hand helped pay for the maintenance and upkeep, and on the other hand it also discouraged non-residents from coming. What might be a free trip to a really nice park for a large family, for example, suddenly might cost a couple hundred shekel. If you would have to pay for 7 or 10 people, you would think twice about spending that money on a park. I remember going to park Ranaana during vacation in the days when they still charged entrance fees. The large park was quiet, not swamped with people, clean and pleasant.

After the Supreme Court decision, suddenly Park Ranaana was free for everyone. The few times during vacations periods we have gone since it was less pleasant, dirty and crowded. I understand the problem of the Modiin residents. unfortunately for them, the law is not on their side. I don't think charging an entrance fee to visitors, if the Supreme Court would allow it, is discrimination.

What Ranaana did do was charge exorbitant rates for parking in the immediate vicinity of the park. It didn't really help, as paying for parking, even at expensive rates, is still far cheaper than paying entrance fees or going to more expensive places. As well, many of these visitors come in large groups by bus - the bus can drop off the visitors and go park farther away until it is time to pick up the visitors and leave.

At the end of the day, it seems like the press made this into a bigger deal than it really is, and even the City of Modiin says that the park is open to all and they have no intention of charging for parking. The idea is not even realistic. The park itself only has a small lot. there is no street parking in the area, but a reasonable distance away are a few larger parking lots for train station, that they will not, or cannot, charge for.