SANDPOINT, Idaho — Downtown Sandpoint and City Beach visitors have been enjoying free parking for years. That will soon change this summer, because, starting July 1, the city of Sandpoint will install paid hourly parking kiosks.
In March, the Sandpoint City Council voted to spend an estimated $220,000 to install 43 kiosks in downtown and City Beach area. Visitors can expect to pay around $1 to $3 per hour under the new system.
Currently, the city chalks tires during free parking periods to ensure people don’t overstay their parking spots. A spokesman for the city says this method is outdated and people often find workarounds to get more time.
A city news release includes which areas would see parking kiosks:
“The Third and Church lot, Bridge Street lot, City Beach, Dock Street Marina lot, and Pend Oreille Bay Trail lot—will require either a valid permit or payment of an hourly parking fee.”
The parking change has drawn mixed reactions from downtown visitors.
“It takes away from that demeanor… it would also be harder for people to remember to pay and do stuff like that, and they’ll be getting more tickets,” said Sophia Garcia, a downtown visitor.
“People come here to travel and see stuff, so they just want to go out, have a good time, and not stress about how their parking is going to be up,” said Anaiya Roberts, another downtown visitor.
One business says they’re afraid the paid parking means fewer customers walking through their doors. They also note that their employees already re park their cars several times a day to abide by the parking time limit.
Some locals are a fan of the new system. One woman said she thought the paid parking was fair and liked the idea of tourists paying to keep her city maintained.
For Sandpoint residents, an online portal opens Monday to purchase an annual permit for $20. Bonner County residents will be charged $35. These permits allow for up to 8 hours of free parking a day.
The city says the money from the parking meters will be put back into public parking facilities.
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