View Larger Map
Where can I park in The District?
How much does it cost to park in The District?
Is parking ever free in The District?
I've been feeding the meter--why did I still get a ticket?
What are parking fees used for?
How does Columbia compare to other cities?
Where should I park if I work in The District?
What are my alternatives to parking?
____________
Where can I park in The District?
The District has over 5900 public and private parking spaces--of which 1413 are on-street metered spaces. Parking in The District is at about 70% occupancy. Typically, a 75% occupancy rate is considered optimal. We've got four parking garages-- Tenth and Cherry, Eighth and Cherry, Sixth and Cherry, and Eighth and Walnut. We've planned it so a garage is never that far from your destination.
What is EZ Park?
EZ Park is a nifty new program in The District that's perfect for those of you who don't happen to have a pocketful of spare change. It's a pre-paid card you can use in the on-street meters and in our four parking garages--no quarters required to play. Even better, you only pay for the time you park.
How do I get an EZ Park Card?
Pre-paid parking cards for garages and meters can be purchased at:
1. Columbia City Hall at Seventh & Broadway
2. Boone County Government Building, Eighth & Ash
3. MU's Turner Parking Garage, Sixth & Conely.
4. Cards can also be reloaded at the 3 Cherry Street parking garages.
How much does it cost to park in The District?
Rates vary based on the location of the space. Parking meters range from 30 cents to 50 cents an hour. The cost of a permitted space? A little over $1 a day.
Is parking ever free in The District?
Yes! You can always park free at night and on Sundays. After 6:00 pm, feel free to ignore the meters and have some fun!
I've been feeding the meter--why did I still get a ticket?
According to City Ordinance, a person cannot park in a metered space longer than the time shown on the meter--even if the meter is constantly fed. Why does the City do this? The answer is simple--to benefit the businesses by encouraging space turn-over. Could you imagine how difficult it would be to find a space if an employee or college student monopolized a metered space for an entire day? If you're spending the day shopping or running errands in The District, we built the garages just for you! Pre-paid parking time is unlimited in the garages so you can avoid that little yellow ticket and enjoy your day.
____________
Return to Top of Page____________
What are parking fees used for?
The City recently built two new parking garages and renovated a third in order to increase the amount of parking in The District. Parking fees are used to pay off the debt obligations incurred when these new garages were built. The City Parking Utility is designed to be self-supporting. Funds generated from parking tickets however, do not help support these new garages. Instead, this money goes to the Municipal Court. So avoid a ticket and show your support for this additional parking by dropping a quarter in that meter.
How does Columbia compare to other cities?
Very well. Boulder, Colorado has a population of nearly 100,000 but has fewer parking spaces than Columbia. Norman, Oklahoma, another city with a population pushing 100,000, has only 750 public parking spaces! For more information on parking in The District, contact the City of Columbia Public Works at 874-7674 or log on to their webpage.
Where should I park if I work in The District?
Your best bet for employee parking is an off-street surface lot or parking garage. Why is that? Because your employer loses $202 a day if your car is taking up a metered space a customer would normally park in. As an added benefit, with pre-paid parking you can park for an unlimited amount of time in a garage so you won't have to feed a meter and risk a parking ticket. Give Mindy Barnes with the City a call for monthly parking permits. She can be reached at 874-6368.
What are my alternatives to parking?
Try a bike! The MKT runs right into The District, bike lanes are being marked throughout The District, and bike racks are available on Ninth, Broadway and inside the parking garages--with more being installed soon! Worried about helmet hair? The Wabash Bus Station is located in The District as well and City buses are now equipped to carry bicycles. They've even got a bus to take you from your favorite District restaurant to a Mizzou game!
____________
Return to Top of Page____________
Social Networking comes to The Distrct. Get the inside scoop & share details!
____________
Learn more about TIFs. First in a series about Tax Increment Financing for downtown development.
____________
Current TIF Proposals Second in a series about Tax Increment Financing for downtown development.
____________
Take action on TIFs/ Third in a series about Tax Increment Financing for downtown development.
____________
Join our mailing list. Be the first to know about great deals and District events!
____________
Film Series at the Museum of Art and Archaeolgy. A Touch of Class showing on June 18.
____________
ARTlandish Gallery coming in June. Learn about the newest addition to the North Village Arts District.
____________
Heading to The District this weekend? Make parking easy with pre-paid EZ Park cards for garages and meters.
____________
____________
» You are here. Printable maps of The District, including all your favorite shops and hangouts.
____________
____________
Listen to our "Shop Local" ad. The CVB is promoting local businesses on Clear 99 and The Eagle 93.9.
____________
Real change, not spare change. Want to help? Donate to an organization working for real change.
____________
____________
.Carrie Gartner
