Avon Rolls Back Paid Parking for Summer Season

Standing on Lake Street in Avon, the sound of cars driving by and people chatting fills the air — a stark contrast to the tension that hung over the town's parking situation just months ago. The town's decision to roll back paid parking for the summer, effective April 1, will likely be a welcome change for locals and visitors alike. Free parking will return to almost all town-owned spots, including those on Benchmark Road, West Beaver Creek Boulevard, and a portion of East Benchmark Road.

The Avon Town Council approved the changes, which will last through November 30, during its meeting on Tuesday. Parkers will no longer be required to register their cars, and the town will replace paid parking signs with new, summer-specific signs. This move comes after the town began charging for parking year-round in December 2023, with a fee of $1 per hour after three hours of free parking between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. The current system, which requires parkers to register their vehicles even if parking for free, will be scrapped for the summer.

Make no mistake, the decision to reintroduce free parking is a significant shift in the town's approach to parking management. The town and Hoffmann Commercial Real Estate had previously implemented paid parking systems to prevent skiers from parking all day in spots intended for shorter-term use by patrons of Avon businesses. However, the move was met with public protest, and it appears that the town is now looking to find a more balanced approach.

It's worth noting that parking management will remain in place at Avon Town Hall and the Avon Recreation Center, with patrons still required to register their vehicles and pay $1 per hour for parking exceeding three hours between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Additionally, overnight parking will still not be allowed anywhere on town property during the summer.

The town's decision to drop paid parking fees was first floated during a February 10 Town Council meeting, as part of a conversation about the town's proposed new private parking business license. Following the meeting, town staff had a "substantive" conversation with Hoffmann's parking subsidiary, Five Star Valet, which then discussed the matter with the landlord's parking enforcement company, PRRS.

Hoffmann Commercial Real Estate has also announced that it will shift to free parking during the non-ski season, effective April 1, and reduce the penalty for failing to register to park in its lots and parking for more than three hours from $87 to $30. The company does not plan to change the signage in its lots, but the new information will appear online when the signs' QR codes are scanned.

As the town of Avon prepares to welcome visitors back on April 1, it's clear that the parking situation will be a key factor in determining the success of the summer season. With free parking returning to most town-owned spots, locals and visitors will be able to enjoy the town's amenities without the burden of paid parking. The short version: Avon is rolling back its paid parking program for the summer, and it's a move that will likely be well-received by the community.

Read that again: the town of Avon is willing to sacrifice revenue from paid parking in order to create a more welcoming environment for visitors. This decision will undoubtedly have an impact on local businesses, and it will be worth watching to see how the town's approach to parking management evolves in the coming months. For now, it's a positive step towards creating a more vibrant and accessible community.

The Avon Town Council's decision to reintroduce free parking is significant, and Underwood said, "We look forward to welcoming everybody back on April 1 for a happier parking situation in the town of Avon." The town's new approach to parking will be in place for the foreseeable future, and its effects will be closely watched.