Calgary park faces parking crunch as commuters take over lot

People who use Calgary'sEdworthy Park say weekday parking has become so bad there that many visitors have to turn around and leave.

They saythe large, unmarked gravel lot at the foot of ShaganappiTrail N.W.has been taken over by people walking to nearby workplaces including Foothills Hospital up the hill, where construction of a new parkade has caused a severe parking crunch for months or cycling to work downtown.

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"It's mayhem, it's always crazy," said mom Kayla Bennett, addingshe often can't find a space.

"Then you have to go up the road to the bridge and try and park up there or try and park along the sides," Bennett said.

Other park users say the same thing when it comes to getting a spot during the week.

"Often you come in and the parking lot is full," said Jennifer Schoenberger.

Edworthycovers more than 300 acres and is situated on the south side of the Bow River. The park is accessible from Spruce Drive S.W., but apedestrian bridge links it to the parking lot on the other side of the river, near Point McKay.

Schoenberger admits her husband uses the lot to commute, cycling downtown to work.

She says people staying active isn't a bad thing but it makes the parking situation frustrating.

"It's sometimes a challenge to find a spot," said Sasha Wiens, visiting Edworthy with her two young kids. "It makes it challenging to access the pathways."

The situation is impacting one local business, too. The owner of the popular Angel's Cappuccino and Ice Cream Cafe, which sits just east of the park's bridge, says it's all that customers talk about.

"I hear complaints every day. People will book at our cafe to come down and eat and then call me up and say they can't find parking and so they're leaving," said Cathy Jacobs.

Jacobs says many workers from the Foothills Hospital and Colonel Belcher retirement home also use the lot for free parking, as well as people jumping on transit or cycling elsewhere.

"Our patrons who come down to the park are just not able to find parking anymore," said Jacobs. "Unless they're local, they're not coming down here. It's having a huge impact on business."

Jacobs thinks more parking spots is the answer and says there's still more green space in the area that could be used.

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Pete Llewellyn spent 20 minutes circling the parking lot looking for space while his daughter and grandkids waited for him. Still no space.

He says there used to be more parking in the lot, but one section was converted to green space a few years ago.

"I don't know who made that decision but that was a wrong decision," he said. "It wouldn't take much to put some more gravel down at that (southeast) end and open up another 50 stalls. Another solution is to put in a proper parking lot. I'm sure you could create another 30 spaces overnight. If you put in the parking cement blocks then people know where to park," said Llewellyn.

The city couldn't offer any suggestions to address the problem. However, a spokesperson noted the lot is one of seven official park-and-bike sites, designed to help commuters avoid expensive downtown parking fees, bypass traffic congestion, and get more exercise.

"I think we're a victim of our own success in that the EdworthyPark location is very popular," said Tom Thivener with the city, who says expanding locations isn't out of the question.

"That is one the things we're trying to identify is where do locations need to be expanded, where do they need to be added," said Thivener.