COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho — Organizers for the Fourth of July celebration in Coeur d’Alene are once again preparing to temporarily increase parking in some lots for the holiday.
Parking on Tuesday at Independence Point was $3 an hour. On the Fourth of July, that will increase to $20 for the day. It might seem like a large increase but it’s nothing new.
The Fourth of July festivities are put on by the Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce. The chamber said for the last seven years, it has leased some parking lots, like Independence Point, from the city of Coeur d'Alene for the holiday.
For the last several years, the chamber said it's charged $20 to park in lots for the day. This helps offset the roughly $30,000 cost to put on the fireworks. The Chamber of Commerce shoulders that and points out that the fireworks are essentially a free community event.
Lots that will cost $20 to park in for the day include Independence Point, the Museum of North Idaho lot, and the large lot by Memorial Field. There are others that are $20 for the day, too.
The chamber said parking fees on the Fourth will generate about $10,000 for both the city and the chamber. The chamber will use that money to help pay for the fireworks, traffic control, and security, among other costs.
The money that goes to the city will go to what's called the parking fund, which then goes toward developing parks.
The chamber points out that street parking is of course an option on the Fourth of July. Since it's a holiday, street parking will be free. As for the fireworks, those will happen at dusk, the chamber said.