The downtown parking problem in touristy Eureka Springs has been like a chronic fever blister that's caused pain in town every now and then for over 40 years.
And until this arts and entertainment community decides to bite the bullet and build a multistory parking garage to accommodate the town's merchants and historic auditorium, I can promise the matter isn't going away.
The matter was making headlines again the other day when alderman James DeVito (never shy to express his views) shared his vision of a five-story parking garage with an attractive facade, some shops at ground level and perhaps even a basement level.
Whether one appreciates DeVito or not, I have to respect any man like him who isn't fearful to speak his mind on behalf of the greater good.
DeVito told ace reporter Bill Bowden that frustrated patrons to his popular Italian restaurant downtown (trout fingers, yum!) continually ask where they can park in the hilly community with limited lots and an entire 139 parking meters that are steadily occupied.
"We have an auditorium with 950 seats and no parking," he said.
Let's see now, an average of two folks per vehicle coming to attend a packed house would mean more than 400, all looking for some place to park and probably close to the same time.
DeVito went on to remind his colleagues on the council how critical they all know it is that those who travel to Eureka to enjoy its many charms and spend hundreds of thousands of dollars each year leave with a pleasant taste in their mouths. One of the worst impressions is to show up excited, only to wind up 30 minutes later upset because you can't even park to start enjoying yourself.
This isn't my first column saying exactly the same thing. I wrote the following words about three years ago:
"I'm convinced Eureka Springs can't possibly take its first solid step toward becoming what many feel it can be until it builds adequate parking for those who come to enjoy it. The crowds of potential patrons simply won't come in the numbers that they could, even if the city offers the grandest attraction known to humans, unless they know they'll have a place to park when they arrive. Who knows over the years how many folks have driven an hour or more to Eureka for a pleasant evening or escape, only to leave because they had hissy convulsions trying to find a parking space? How many of those customers never returned because of that frustration?"
DeVito's idea today is to put a feasible plan in place so the community can at least begin applying for grants to see this deck become a reality.
Kevin Costner already showed us that building whatever it is (even a baseball field in a cornfield) means they will come. And "they" in this instance will be more than happy to pay a reasonable parking fee to help pay for it over time. Yes, some bonded indebtedness would be inevitable to get it done. But it would be covered. Besides, that's what cities do to build what they need, isn't it?
I know the community already has its remote parking area atop the hill leading to downtown. And those who park there can wait to catch the charming trolley to downtown and back to their cars later. That's nice. But it's still not nearly what's needed for Eureka to keep growing toward its fullest possible potential.
As fortune has it, there is one ideal plot the city already owns--well, 60 percent of it anyway. And it's only a block from the auditorium. This space appears to be pretty much an optimum spot to erect a deck.
So my two cents: Get creative, city leaders, as you contemplate your next move. Put all that notorious bickering aside. Work out a deal. Make a final plan together. And move ahead with building this badly needed deck.
With 5,400 cars traveling the Main Street each day last year, I can absolutely, unequivocally, 100 percent guarantee you "they" will continue to come. And they will leave in a lot happier frame of mind, probably to return again.
More head-ons
What is with so many drivers who still somehow can't manage to keep their vehicles on their own side of the highways? I'm still writing about this.
Is it really that difficult to maintain control, especially with power steering being what it is nowadays? Really, folks? As I've asked previously: Do we perhaps need wider lanes with rubber bowling bumpers, for gosh sakes?
Two more Arkansans died last week when vehicles crossed centerlines to slam headlong into oncoming vehicles, state police reported. One fatality came after a 2014 Ram pickup crossed the center stripe along Arkansas 72 and killed Angella Scott of Bella Vista. She was just 43. Mark Lingo, 57, died after allowing his 1986 Toyota to stray across the centerline heading west along Arkansas 294 in Lonoke and struck a perfectly innocent driver head-on in the opposite lane.
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Mike Masterson's column appears regularly in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Email him at mikemasterson10@hotmail.com. Read his blog at mikemastersonsmessenger.com.
Editorial on 07/19/2014