COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho — Coeur d'Alene residents angered by the recent decision to charge for parking at McEuen Park have started a signature campaign to keep parking free at the popular lot.
A change.org petition, 'Keep our parking!' has nearly 1,500 signatures.
"The politicians of Coeur d'Alene have proved to be money hungry time and time again and it's time for the people that make CDA what it is, to speak up!" The petition says.
Several commenters on the petition say the city is catering to tourists instead of locals.
In early February, Coeur d'Alene city council members approved various rate increases across the city, including new rates at the McEuen and Independence Point parking lots. Both lots are popular with area visitors, especially during the summer.
Once changes are complete, parking at McEuen will change to $1 per hour and Independence Point will be $3 per hour during summer months.
Currently, parking up to two hours is free at McEuen. Drivers are required to place receipts distributed by a parking lot machine on their dashboard, though, indicating free parking. Parking three hours costs $3.
Many drivers fail to obtain one of the "free parking" receipts, though, and receive a $20 parking fine as a result.
"People don't read parking signs," said Terry Cooper of Coeur d'Alene Parking Services.
While signage at McEuen indicates that a receipt is still required for two free hours of parking, Cooper said many drivers disregarded the process. That's resulted in multiple parking tickets, especially during busy summer months.
At Independence Point, parking is currently $2 per hour. That amount will remain during the winter. However, under the new fee structure, parking will cost $3 per stall from May 1 through September 30. Two years ago, parking at Independence Point was only $1 per hour, according to Cooper.
"It's a prime spot," said Cooper of the popular Independence Point lot, noting that it's the first area many visitors come across to park and take in the lake. Stalls are limited, though, and the increased rates look to increase turnover at the lot, Cooper said. Before the rate increases, many cars would stay for several hours at the high traffic lot.
"It’s a huge inconvenience," said local resident Justus Johnson of the changes at McEuen. Johnson works in downtown Coeur d'Alene and parks his car at McEuen, visiting every two hours to print a new "free parking" receipt. "I understand the city needs the money and that’s that.” Johnson still said he felt that Coeur d'Alene's downtown core still offered several places to park, albeit a block or two out of the way. "It’s not that much trouble, it’s a small area,” he said.
Also approved by city council were changes to the Coeur d'Alene city hall campus lot. After two free hours of parking, regular-sized stalls will cost $1 per hour.
According to Cooper, the fee changes were tentatively scheduled to be implemented by May 1. Changes would be made to applicable parking lot signs as well.