Letter to the Editor
At a recent Public Open House, citizens were presented with a proposed strategy to manage parking at the waterfront.
We learned there is presently not a problem with parking at Marina Park. The strategy is proposed to manage parking for the future; once the hotel opens, the CN Station has commercial tenants, and the Developer's Market building planned for a portion of the CN station parking lot is operating and requires parking.
The Parking Management Study proposes that paid parking would “encourage parking space turn-over”, improving parking availability. The Study goes on to tell us that the hotel and condos have private parking and would not be impacted. So, it they have parking, why does the Parking Authority feel the need to “manage” the parking?
The other rationale put forward is that paid parking would put the cost on those who use the park. But no other city park has paid parking, nor the Auditorium or Complex, for example. So why here?
The issue really, is that it is hoped that by charging for parking, we will have a shorter visit to our park. (Encouraging “turnover”, as the Study puts it.) Thus leaving the parking for the use of future commercial activity. The park is not meant to be a home for commercial enterprise. We only have one Marina Park, and it is fortunately on the greatest lake in the world, no less, with an unparalleled view. Why clutter it up with more “commercial ventures”? The only commercial opportunities that should be in the park are those which will enhance our enjoyment of our park visit. Things like a shop to get an ice cream or a warm drink, or bike rentals.
Since the re-opening of Marina Park, much has been done to encourage public attendance with new special events such as Winter Fun Days, which add to the summer enjoyment of Live on the Waterfront (formerly Summer in the Parks).
We should be further fulfilling the vision and ensuring that anything proposed for Prince Arthur's Landing, even paid parking, goes through the Waterfront Development Committee's evaluation criteria. These include, among other questions, “Does it - improve accessibility......increase public ownership or access to the waterfront.........bring us together as a Community and increase public participation?” We contributed $65 million in tax dollars to make that happen.
It's unacceptable that paid parking is being considered as a way to shorten our visits to the park, so parking is available for unnecessary commercial activity in the park.
Citizens can comment online on the City's website until March 17; a link to the Parking Survey is on the Main page.
Or call the Parking Authority at 625-2370. A Report is being prepared for Council.
Patty Bates
