Myrtle Beach mayor, challenger say ending year-round paid parking worth another look
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — Two candidates for Myrtle Beach mayor say they're willing to take another look at whether continuing year-round paid parking in the city is viable.
After years of free parking during the so-called offseason for tourism, the city made the switch to charging year-round in November 2023, even though some businesses predicted it would keep nonresidents away.
The issue returned to the forefront recently when Mark Kruea, the city's longtime public information director, announced his campaign for mayor. Kruea said he would take a look at year-round paid parking and whether 'it is a disincentive for people to go downtown.'
News13 asked Mayor Brenda Bethune about the topic Thursday night as she kicked off her re-election campaign at The Hangout at Broadway at the Beach. She is seeking a third consecutive term in office.
'We've actually already talked about that with council, and with management and staff,' Bethune said. 'So we've already talked about that. We are looking at that, yes. We all agree that we need to do what we can to help our businesses.'
On Friday, Bethune went into more detail on the topic in a statement to News13, saying the discussions have focused on returning 'free parking in the core commercial and boulevard areas' from November to February.
'It would require a change in our current ordinance to give the manager the authority to make a change without council's approval,' she said. 'This is something that is being actively worked on by staff and management. It will be discussed in our May workshop if not sooner.'
The city's nonpartisan election is set for Nov. 4.
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Dennis Bright is the Digital Executive Producer at News13. He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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