by Bailey White
Staff Writer
A recent survey conducted by Downtown Vision, Inc. revealed 70 percent of the public saw a lack of parking as the biggest deterrent to coming downtown.
Park Smart is one of the proposed solutions.
A collaborative effort of DVI, individual property owners, parking operators and the Downtown Development Authority, the program is designed to show the public that affordable, short-term parking is available and that there are plenty of spaces available for nighttime and special events.
“This is the starting point for a comprehensive downtown parking program,” said DVI consultant Mark Rimmer.
Park Smart has two components.
During the week, between the hours of 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., participating parking operators have agreed to charge patrons no more than $2 for an hour and a half of parking.
“For this program you don’t need a coupon, a validation stamp or any kind of ticket,” said Rimmer, who said average costs for lunchtime parking can range from $1 per half hour to as much as $3 for the first hour.
Six locations have already agreed to participate in the lunchtime program.
“Between those six, there are over 4,000 parking spaces,” he said. “That doesn’t mean they’ll all be available at all times, but we’ve estimated that at any given time, over 600 will be available.
“Another six locations hope to be providing lunchtime parking at some point in the near future and are just working out operational issues.”
A second part of the program encourages downtown merchants and retailers to take a proactive step toward bringing customers to their businesses on the weekends and in the evenings.
Merchants, retailers, restaurant owners and special event organizers will be able to distribute coupons with a $1 value to be used during weekend and evening hours at participating parking locations.
“We have 31 locations that have agreed to participate in this part of the program and that represents over 9,800 parking spaces,” said Rimmer.
The program was designed to reach all areas of downtown.
“The locations are spread out so that they’ll service the sports complex, the Florida Theatre, the Hemming Plaza area, the Landing, the T-U Center, and the Prime Osborn,” said Rimmer. “And the lunchtime locations are within a block and a half of lunchtime locations on Adams Street, the Landing, Hemming Plaza and others.”
Rimmer anticipates the program will have final approval next week, at which point the DVI website will have specific details on the program and provide a map of locations. “And the signage identifying participating locations,” said Rimmer, noting property owners and operators have been “extremely supportive” of Park Smart.
“For all of them to agree really speaks of their commitment to seeing things happen downtown,” he said. “They’re taking a very proactive step.”