For the first time this summer, Acworth city officials are accepting all major credit/debit cards as payment by nonresidents for parking at the city’s parks - no cash.

This decision was made recently by the Acworth Board of Aldermen.

The reason is “to assist in mitigating the spread of COVID-19 by minimizing the contact between the visitors and our staff,” said Alex Almodovar, assistant to Acworth City Manager Brian Bulthuis, in an email to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Another change is to charge the nonresident parking fee of $10 on the weekdays - not just the weekends - at Cauble Park and South Shore Park to “better assist us in managing crowds at the facilities,” he added.

The parking fee applies at Cauble Park and South Shore Park 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekends and holidays, he said.

Almodovar said the hours of operation are:

  • Dallas Landing Park - 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
  • Proctor Landing - 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
  • South Shore Park - 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
  • Acworth Beach at Cauble Park | Park: 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. / Beach: sun up to sun down

For nonresidents of Acworth, the parking fee is $10 at Cauble Park, Dallas Landing Park, Proctor Landing Park and South Shore Park every day.

Acworth residents will not be charged a parking fee if they have the appropriate resident pass.

Pavilions and playgrounds at these facilities will remain closed.

No outside personal grills will be allowed in the parks.

In accordance with Governor Brian Kemp’s most recent executive order, groups shall be less than 25 and in an area no closer than six feet from others.

“Crowd size in the parks will be monitored, and the parks/beaches may be temporarily closed if social distancing becomes difficult or is grossly ignored,” Almodovar said.