City sets timeline for return of more pay parking

Pay parking near the waterfront and on the Rose Avenue /Abbott Street hospital frontages in Kelowna resumed Monday.

The city says the rest of on-street parking areas will remain no-charge until June 15.

“We have seen a steady increase in activity within all parking areas, with a more significant rise in the downtown (Zone A) and hospital areas,” said Dave Duncan, Manager Parking Services, City of Kelowna. “The re-introduction of pay parking helps to establish on-street spaces as short-term, encouraging long-term parkers to find parking in parkades and parking lots.”

To reduce the amount of contact with hard surfaces, the first 30 minutes in the Downtown and South Pandosy on-street business areas will be offered at no-charge when using the PayByPhone app. This offer will be available to users once per day until Aug. 31.

The PayByPhone parking app is available from the App Store, Google Play or Blackberry stores. Register with PayByPhone online and pay with a phone call.

The City of Kelowna suspended paid parking in late March when parking demand declined significantly as more people worked from home and self-isolated.

Five-minute temporary parking zones were implemented in various locations to provide a quick stop option for curb side pick-up.

“These have been successful in supporting businesses that have been reliant on a take-out and pick-up delivery model and will remain in place until further notice,” stated a city news release.