David McCann is going to miss the free hour of parking that he has enjoyed for years at the city-owned parking deck attached to the downtown Akron-Summit County Public Library.
The parking deck is among eight downtown garages in which the city has offered free parking for the first hour since 2011. Beginning Monday, parking will cost $1 for the first 30 minutes and $2 for the first hour.
In addition, a flat rate of $2 will be charged to park in the decks after 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Evening parking on those nights previously was free.
Free parking will remain in the decks on Friday nights, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. “It’s not a significant sum of money, but it adds up over time. Ask anyone in special collections on the third floor and they will tell you I’m a permanent fixture there,” said McCann, of Akron. “I’m a chronic genealogist who goes there two or three times a week. I hope the city and the library will come to some kind of agreement that will allow library patrons to get that free hour back.”
On Friday, library officials said they understand the need for instituting the parking fees.
“As a public institution, we understand that facilities have to be repaired and maintained,” said Carla Davis, spokeswoman for the library. “We hope that this increase doesn’t discourage people from utilizing the library or from coming downtown.”
City officials have said the estimated $158,451 expected to be raised from the fees collected for the nearly 6,600 parking spaces in the eight decks will be used for maintenance and repairs.
City leaders made the move in February 2011 to offer free parking in city-owned decks parking for the first hour, with a five–minute grace period, to encourage people to frequent downtown businesses. The city had offered free parking in decks after 6 p.m. since 2002.
Colette Jenkins can be reached at 330-996-3731 or cjenkins@thebeaconjournal.com. She can be followed at www.twitter.com/ColetteMJenkins.