A special parking rate will charged in some Greenwood-owned parking lots for next month’s total solar eclipse.
The Greenwood City Council unanimously voted 7-0, with two members absent, Monday to authorize the city’s Board of Public Works and Safety to set special event parking rates for city-owned parking facilities. The ordinance was only scheduled to be introduced Monday night, but council members unanimously voted to expedite it so it would be in effect before the April 8 eclipse. The board of works approved their own resolution for special event parking rates unanimously in a 3-0 vote earlier on Monday.
Much of central and southern Indiana is along the path of totality for the April 8 eclipse, including Johnson County. A partial eclipse will take place from 1:50 to 4:23 p.m., with totality in the Greenwood area lasting for 3 minutes and 59 seconds starting at approximately 3:05:55 p.m.
A “very large” influx of people is expected to visit the city for the eclipse. Officials wanted to monetize these city lots to protect their assets and to help offset the impact out-of-town visitors could have on parking facilities, said Rob Taggart, executive director of the parks and recreation department.
With the ordinance, the board can authorize special event parking fees at its discretion, provided that the fee doesn’t exceed $40 a day. Special events are defined as festivals, gatherings, events, fairs or meetings organized or arranged for “purposes of sport, exhibition, trade, commerce, entertainment, music industry or any other purposes that may occur periodically,” according to the ordinance.
While the board of works resolution specifies a rate of $40 for April 8, this is not correct, Taggart said. The resolution needs a clarification saying it will be up to $40 that day, he said.
The parks department is still assessing rates for April 8, though they are thinking of setting the rates at around $20 a car, Taggart said.
For April 8, special event rates will be in effect for the following parking facilities and lots:
- Craig Park: Lots off Smith Valley Road, Washington Street
- Parking Garage, 520 S. Meridian St.
- Old City Park: Lot located off Surina Way
- City Center: Portion of lot located closest to Main Street, between Market Plaza and Madison Avenue
- City Center Park, 415 Lincoln St.
- Lot located between Motors Plus and Bethel Chin Baptist Church on Main Street
- Greenwood Community Center: Lot between community center and police department on Surina Way
- Lot located between McKinley Street and Washington Street, north of Main Street.
