Centre in the Park - Parking Management Plan
March 25, 2010
Community Centre construction on track
for November 1 opening
New parking management plan aims to balance and serve varying needs
With just over seven months until the new Community Centre opens on November 1, the building’s exterior and interior work continues. Construction of new roadways and landscaping surrounding the Community Centre will begin in April.
The County is now beginning to detail operational plans for the centre’s use. The first operational plan to be introduced is the Centre in the Park-Parking Management Plan.
The new Community Centre, located in Centre in the Park, will be a busy and active place for everyone in our community. Within it, residents and visitors can gather for community events, enjoy the new library and art exhibits, access municipal services, and much more. The parking management plan considers a range of users’ needs and the types of parking areas offered.
Centre in the Park’s vision has long been to achieve a walkable, pedestrian-oriented community in support of sustainable development. Few roads and a well-managed, limited-parking system will help realize this vision.
The Centre in the Park parking program offers a combination of free parking and paid longer-time-limit parking that will take effect November 1 for the underground parkade, street parking and surface parking lots in the area.
User-pay parking provides the County with a means of controlling the occupancy, or demand for parking, by helping to ensure turnover of the limited number stalls. Regulating the length of time a vehicle may be parked is expected to facilitate finding a spot to park for the many visitors, library patrons, staff and residents who come to the Community Centre and County Hall. Once a paid parking system is in place, people may also consider alternatives to driving their vehicle to the area, such as walking, biking, transit or carpooling.
“Introducing a paid parking program to our community is a significant change,” says Mayor Cathy Olesen. “The parking program aims to balance access to the new Community Centre and County Hall, and the need to manage peak and lower parking demand periods in the area. We ask for everyone’s patience while we introduce the new program.”
The first hour of parking will be free in all paid parking areas, including the underground parkade. As well, a 30-minute maximum parking lot will be free at all times to serve quick visits to the Community Centre and County Hall. To return items to the library, there will be a convenient, free parking drop-off area.
During weekdays, and after the first hour free, the hourly rates to park will be one or two dollars per hour depending on the parking area. During evenings and weekends all parking is free, except for the underground parkade where a $2 flat rate will be charged.
Mayor Olesen adds there is a value and a cost to providing parking. Parking revenues will help to offset the capital and operating costs of providing a well-run integrated parking system.
Residents can obtain further information and provide their views on the Centre in the Park Parking Management Plan page, or by phoning Facility Services at 780-464-8403, or by sending an email to County_Hall_Parking@strathcona.ab.ca
Administration will report to County Council on Tuesday, May 4 with information gained from the release of the Parking Management Plan.
Centre in the Park is a multi-use area being developed in Sherwood Park. It combines municipal services, local government, residences, retail services and inviting public spaces…creating a heart for our community. Centre in the Park links to existing amenities such as Broadmoor Lake Park, Festival Place, the trail system, businesses and schools.
The Community Centre is envisioned to be a busy and vital part of Centre in the Park, and the focal point for civic life and community celebration in Strathcona County. The Community Centre project is currently on time and on budget.
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Contact:
Mayor Cathy Olesen, 780-464-8000
Last updated: Friday, November 05, 2010
Page ID: 5297