Hot Springs locals react to upcoming rise in parking costs

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The Hot Springs board of directors voted this week to have new parking rates in the downtown, changing some areas of downtown from free parking to paid parking.

Locals’ reactions are split, with some people who work downtown saying this can’t hurt and others say this creates a hassle for them and those who come to visit as this change affects about 1000 parking spots.

Mikel Ellis works downtown and said, “It’s good and bad honestly.”

Kathleen O’Sullivan, who lives in the area, said, “I’m very disappointed.”

“I don’t mind it at all as long as it’s making the city money,” Podunk Annie’s owner Krista Creel said.

Priority parking is closer to downtown destinations and is on places like Central Avenue. In those spots, It will be $2 an hour for a maximum of two hours.

Secondary parking, off some side streets, including the exchange lot, will be $1 an hour with no time limit.

Ellis said some people are downtown for hours.

“That could probably add up over time for some people,” Ellis said.

Deputy City Manager Lance Spicer said rates will be adjusted for employees in secondary parking places.

“Our board of directors actually adopted a 75% discount rate for an employee discount program,” Spicer said.

City officials said they’ll use parking kiosks and mobile pay apps and enforcement will be done with a license plate reader, different from coin-operated machines now.

They’re estimating $1.5 million in revenue annually, something Creel said is good.

“People know when they come down here they’re going to be walking and that’s what they enjoy doing, and I don’t think having to pay for parking will change that,” Creel said.

Spicer said there are still some free spaces available.

“Well more than 2500 parking spaces that will still be unregulated and free, and you’re talking about two, possibly three blocks off of those corridors,” Spicer said.

Some are critical of the added walk coming from those spaces

“That’s not as convenient,” O’Sullivan said.

Overall, city officials said this is part of a larger plan and the city is just starting to roll it out.

“It’s going to take time to see what really happens with it,” Ellis said.

The next few months will be spent educating the public on the new parking plan. The city added there still could be some changes to this.

Enforcement will take place Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., when the plan is implemented.

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