Pay to Park coming to Podunk?

Is this just the thin wedge of what’s to come?

The Northern View has an interesting story about a plan by the city to create pay parking at Rushbrook Floats in time for next year. You have to ask yourself if this is just the thin wedge of what’s to come for other city areas.

Currently it’s a first come first park situation at the east end lot close to the boat launch, but next year there could be a few extra spots open as visitors and locals alike balk at the idea of paying for what was once free.

The only problem with the pay for parking plan at Rushbrook is the reality that many folks will just park further up George Hills way and Drydock road, already crowded pieces of roadway that on a Saturday or Sunday resembles your average Canadian Tire parking lot, complete with boats and campers.

Any monies received from the parking lot will be placed into a reserve fund, for what is described as “future upgrades”. More ticket dispensers for other areas perhaps?

However back to the present over at Rushbrook, you have to wonder that unless the city has plans for the stretches of road in the immediate area, just how much revenue they’ll haul in from the soon to be Rushbrook pay parking lot.

CITY UPDATES RUSHBROOK PARKING PLAN
By Shaun Thomas
The Northern View
August 23, 2006
Page 5

Major changes to the parking lot at Rushbrook Docks are in the works, according to city administrators at the August 14 council meeting.

“We are almost done with the plans. The plan is to upgrade the area to be able to monitor it and maybe create some revenue,” said City Manager Gord Howie.

One of the major changes would be a fee to use the parking lot, and the city has done a lot of research into this particular venture.

“We have looked at the cost to put in a ticket dispenser in, we have talked to the telephone company to maybe get a line going to the dispenser to allow people to use their bank cards or credit cards, we have looked at what we should charge people for the month, the day and hour, and we have looked at where we should place the dispenser so people don’t have to drive or walk all the way to the end of the lot and back to get a ticket,” said Acting Chief Jim Bruce, noting that the city has met with a number of equipment suppliers to bring in the ticket dispenser.

“As we collect the parking money and if we want to pursue a launch fee, the money will go into a reserve fund to go towards future upgrades.”

In terms of facility upgrades, Howie said the city is looking into infrastructure grants to upgrade the tourist services, including a weigh station that would allow anglers to take a picture with their prized catch.