If you like to head to Barrie's waterfront for a walk or to enjoy the park, you know how tough it can be to find parking. 

And it’s about to get worse for residents and visitors.

The development there is part of a plan to increase the size of the park, and move the road. The city is about to start phase two of its redevelopment project: building a brand new Lakeshore Drive along a stretch of land on the west side of the existing road, where gravel parking lots used to be.

“The existing lakeshore drive will be utilized during construction,” says Bob Kahle with the city.

While drivers won't have to deal with traffic headaches in the area, it will be harder to find parking. Once construction begins, all of the parking spots in the gravel lots – about 130 spaces – will disappear.

And if you don't live in Barrie, any spot you do find is going to cost you. Starting July 2, visitors to Barrie will have to pay $3 an hour to park, or a daily maximum of $15.

Parking will continue to be free for Barrie residents.

If you don't get a water bill or haven't received your pass, they can be picked up at city hall. Visitors can also get a monthly pass which costs $60. But that's a price Jason Williams isn't willing to pay.

“It's hard enough to find a spot as it is and to have to pay I probably won't come down here,” he says.

Kelly Pridding lives in Toronto and says she understands the decision to charge for parking, but wonders how the move will affect local businesses.

“I understand that the city feels that people who don't live here don't pay local taxes so why not have them contribute more,” she says, “but people who come to enjoy the beach they may be pulled away by the idea of paying for parking.”

Eventually there will be more parking spots added – once the new Lakeshore Drive is completed, part of the existing road will be converted into parking spaces. The whole project is expected to cost about $25 million.

The city is in the process of finding a contractor to build the new road. Once that decision is made, construction is expected to begin at the beginning of July.