If you’ve tried to find a parking spot downtown lately, especially on a busy evening, you’re not alone.
Parking in the heart of downtown Wadsworth was the main topic at Monday night’s City Council Public Safety Committee meeting. With more people heading downtown for shows at the Celestia Theater, grabbing dinner, shopping, and attending events, city leaders are starting to ask an important question: are we ready for the growth?
Safety Director Dan Chafin told council members the goal is to get ahead of any issues before they become real problems, especially with the major downtown infrastructure project on the horizon.
“We want to be proactive,” Chafin said.
That infrastructure work, expected to begin later this year, will modernize streets, utilities and public areas in the square. While it’s exciting for the long-term look and feel of downtown, construction could temporarily change traffic patterns and parking availability, which makes planning now even more important.
Right now, parking in the square is limited to two hours, and overnight street parking isn’t allowed from 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. for snow removal and maintenance.
But as downtown activity increases, the conversation is shifting toward how to make parking easier to navigate, especially for visitors who don’t know the area well.
One of the simplest ideas on the table? Better signage. Committee members discussed clearer wayfinding signs to help drivers quickly spot public lots and understand time limits. There’s also interest in improving digital information, think updated parking maps or clearer communication online, so people know where to go before they even leave home.
Chafin noted that as more people come downtown for movies, events and shopping, the city wants to make sure the experience is smooth from the moment someone pulls into town.
Council members seemed to agree that now is the right time to have the conversation.
