Parking on a slightly gloomy Thursday morning in downtown Newburgh is easy. A few walkers are using the riverfront path. Others are grabbing a treat at Honeymoon. There are still spots available near the Town Hall.
But what about peak times and weekends?
This new parking survey looks at walkability and focuses on where the spots are related to the riverfront — and even asks if one would be willing to pay for parking.
Town Administrative Manager Chris Cooke said the study is needed because they don’t know exactly how many spots they have, and they don’t want a disruptive solution.
“We don't want to hurt existing infrastructure by slapping a parking garage in the middle of that or putting parking lots along the river,” he said. “We want to compliment what we have here, and we want to promote public health.”
Things like parking fees — and especially parking structures — are only distant possibilities.
Cooke said the survey results could influence future parking projects, but first they need information.
“We really need to get a handle of how many spots we have,” he said. “How many do we need? What does the business community need to promote future growth in our downtown core? And what do the residents that are moving here want to see when it relates to parking?"
Through whatever projects they decide to do, the goal is to maintain the atmosphere of their downtown.
Cooke says the survey takes about three minutes and they hope to get thousands of responses.
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