HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — For years, parking on or near Bathhouse Row in Hot Springs has consisted of mainly free parking or coin-based meters. However, on Tuesday, the city board approved a plan to change to a more modern paid parking system and replace the coin meters.
"Coming up with change in coins is somewhat difficult,” said Lance Spicer, Deputy City Manager. “The machines are prone to being jammed. A lot of times they malfunction."
He said the new system will use modern technology along Bathhouse Row, and he hopes it'll raise more money for the city while also being easier for both visitors and locals.
"License plate readers for enforcement, parking kiosks, in addition to a mobile payment platform which is certainly very user-friendly, easy to use,” Spicer said.
The rates will be varied and depend on where in Hot Springs you're parking.
On roads like Central and Ouachita Avenue, which Spicer calls the city's "commercial core", you'll be charged $2 an hour with a two hour maximum.
There are about 300 of those spots- but there's over 600 secondary spots, which will cost $1 an hour with no time limit.
The secondary parking is going to be really any of our surface parking lots,” Spicer said, “In addition our multi-level Exchange Street Parking Garage."
So what will all this extra money be used for?
Spicer says it will go towards a city parking fund that he hopes will improve the Hot Springs experience and make parking easier.
"It’ll provide additional funding for additional facilities and parking supply,” Spicer said, “So parking garages and maintenance and upkeep of the parking system itself."
Spicer said city officials hope to implement the plan by September or October and added that employees who work in the Downtown Business District will get a 75% discount in secondary zones.