CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — As a way to encourage folks to explore downtown Clarksville, the city has extended its free parking hours to include Mondays at any of its 207 streetside meters.
"Parking is always a challenge, no matter where you are in the world," said Michael Palmore, building and facilities maintenance director for the City of Clarksville. "This just gives people another way to pull in, park and then just experience it."
It was a collaborative decision by Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts and the Clarksville Parking Commission. Downtown parking had previously only been free on weekends, holidays and evenings after 5 p.m.
"We did a quick little budget analysis and we looked at the numbers and its a super low impact, especially compared to what we're getting," Palmore said. "It's really all about the people and enjoying the downtown."
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With Mondays now being free, the new enforcement hours of 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. only apply Tuesday through Friday. This only applies to on-street metered parking, not parking garages.
"This really is evolving into a way for us to modernize it a little bit and just open it up to give people an opportunity not to use any of the technology and just free park," Palmore said.
Palmore said he hopes this will draw more visitors to come check out all that the historic downtown district has to offer.
"It gives people plenty of spaces to park where they want to," Palmore said.
Coming late this summer, a new, city-funded, eight-story parking garage will be opening near First Street and Commerce Street, adjacent to the existing Cumberland Parking Garage. It will have 585 spaces --including 16 electric chargers -- which will nearly double the available parking for the downtown area.
For more information, visit the Clarksville's website.