Want to learn more about downtown parking plan? City to hold information meetings

The city will hold public meetings starting next week to share information about its new plan to convert the majority of downtown parking to paid parking.

The city plans to change the majority of downtown parking spaces to paid parking by Jan. 1, 2025. Rates will be set by the city’s traffic engineer depending on data collected by private management company The Car Park. Hourly rates will be between $0.75 and $2.

Wichita has nine public meetings on its calendar that residents can attend “to learn more about the new plan” Megan Lovely, city spokesperson, said.

There will be a downtown parking information booth at the Old Town Farmer’s Market on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., while the meetings are scheduled from Aug. 12 through Aug. 26 at several different locations in downtown Wichita.

Here’s a schedule of those meetings, from the city’s website:

• Aug. 12 from 1 to 2 p.m. at Downtown Wichita (505 E. Douglas)
• Aug. 12 from 4 to 5 p.m. at Hotel at Oldtown (830 E. First St.)
• Aug. 13 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Pumphouse (825 E. Second St.)
• Aug. 15 from 2 to 3 p.m. at KMUW (121 N. Mead, Ste. 200)
• Aug. 21 from 9 to 10 a.m. at Downtown Senior Services Multipurpose Room (200 S. Walnut)
• Aug. 21 from 1 to 2 p.m. at KeyCentrix (423 E. Douglas)
• Aug. 22 from 5 to 6 p.m. at Downtown Senior Services Multipurpose Room (200 S. Walnut)
• Aug. 26 from 10 to 11 a.m. at 2nd Floor Conference Room (271 W. Third St.)
• Aug. 28 from 10 to 11 a.m. at Access Advisory Board Envision (610 N. Main)

The new plan’s purpose is to turn downtown parking into an operation that’s self sustaining and can support repairs and upkeep. In 2025, parking fund revenue is expected to reach $3.3 million, which is an increase from the usual $1 to $1.5 million.

The new parking meters are expected provide customers several ways to pay for parking — including coins, cards and paying online. The cost of parking could change depending on special events and the time of day you’re parked.

Lindsay Smith

The Wichita Eagle

Lindsay Smith is a suburban news reporter for the Wichita Eagle, covering the communities of Andover, Bel Aire, Derby, Haysville and Kechi. She has been on The Eagle staff since 2022 and was the service journalism reporter for three years. She has a degree in communications with an emphasis in journalism from Wichita State, where she was editor-in-chief of the student newspaper, The Sunflower, for two years. You can reach her via email at lsmith@wichitaeagle.com.