By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
The parking plan for downtown has been put in reverse.
Mayor Mike Aspacher announced Monday evening that parking in the downtown will be free – permanently.
“I believe this is in the best interest of our residents,” Aspacher said.
The city parking lots downtown had long had individual meters that motorists deposited coins into. That changed a couple years ago, when the city installed a couple parking kiosks – with plans to ultimately equip all the city lots downtown with the high-tech kiosks.
Many in Bowling Green didn’t warm up to the kiosks, and businesses relayed complaints from their customers to the city.
Sympathetic to the plight of businesses in the wake of prolonged downtown construction and now COVID-19, the city has been on a parking meter and kiosk holiday.
On Monday evening, the mayor said he is making that holiday permanent.
“This decision did not come easily,” Aspacher said to City Council Monday evening.
“There are numerous pros and cons to this issue.”
The mayor said he talked with city staff, downtown property owners, business owners and “everyday residents.”
“In removing the fee to park, I hope to remove any barriers that may prevent residents and those visiting our community from enjoying our wonderful downtown,” Aspacher said.
Of course, the decision to offer free parking in all downtown parking lots comes at a price.
The city plans to sell the kiosks and associated hardware that were purchased last year in order to recoup some of the costs.
The city will save money on maintenance of the kiosks, parking meters, and see a tax savings. Also, there will be no full-time parking employees needed, so those workers will be shifted over to the nuisance enforcement program which the police division took over last year.
A year ago, the previous mayor, Dick Edwards and City Council announced an early parking holiday that removed the charge to park within city-owned parking lots and at on-street meters.
This was done in an effort to welcome people back to the downtown area following two years of extensive construction.
“During this time, we have seen that parking enforcement can be successful and still occur without a meter or kiosk, and there has been a very positive response to free parking in these areas,” Aspacher said.
The mayor credited the police division for its efforts to re-work enforcement of parking laws. Visitors to the downtown will still be limited to three hours of parking, and residents of the downtown will be allowed 24 hours overnight parking.
“That type of enforcement will continue,” Aspacher said.
Downtown residents will now be able to obtain a parking permit at no charge, so that they can park in a city-owned lot overnight. Those downtown residents will have to show proof of residency to the police division to get their permits.
Aspacher asked that downtown residents and merchants use the 10-hour parking areas – leaving the three-hour parking areas for visitors to the downtown.
Council members praised the mayor’s action.
“I would like to commend you for a bold decision like that,” Bill Herald said.
Sandy Rowland said downtown businesses will benefit.
“We want them to thrive,” she said. “We are making an effort to get our shoppers downtown.”
