In light of ongoing construction and in recognition of the effect on the downtown area, Bowling Green Mayor Dick Edwards and City Council have decided to waive the charge to park within the downtown for the remainder of 2019, effective Aug. 1.
“The upgrading of infrastructure and necessary road repairs is absolutely vital to maintaining a quality downtown, however, the city recognizes the
negative effects this may have on attracting customers to our downtown businesses,” the mayor said.
“Because of this, we have collectively – city administration and city council – decided to expand our traditional parking holiday that occurs every December, to be in place Aug. 1 through the rest of 2019,” Edwards said.
“The city is investing millions of dollars into the downtown with this construction, but we should recognize the possibility that a project like this may be keeping some from visiting our stores and restaurants,” City Council President Mike Aspacher said. “If removing the fee to park in a city lot makes it a little easier to visit our downtown during construction and helps the businesses, we ought to do that.”
The free parking will not include the on-street meters in front of the Wood County Courthouse on Court Street, between North Summit and North Prospect, the meters in the county parking lot, or Lot M located in the 100 block of Manville Avenue.
While the charge for parking will be removed in designated spaces, all other parking regulations will remain in effect. The time limits within the parking lots along with on-street parking, parking in handicapped spaces, prohibition of on-street parking in the downtown from 3 to 5 a.m., and other regulations will continue to apply and will be enforced.
