Street Parking Near Refugio May Go Bye-Bye

It appears that much of the long-standing free parking along the side of the roads near Refugio State Park will soon be a thing of the past. Approved by the county supervisors during their administrative consent agenda this week, a plan is now in place to make the area of Refugio Road just north of Calle Real off limits for would-be roadside parkers. According to county staff, the new regulation is needed as a safety measure (and turnaround spot) in response to the increase in cars and trucks trying to use the rural and often narrow and impassable Refugio Road as a connector route between Highway 101 and the Santa Ynez Valley.