Downtown Parking

2023 Downtown Parking Improvements

The Town of Windsor is taking a multi-faceted approach to address the pressing issue of parking in the downtown area. In order to develop a well-rounded parking management plan, the town must consider the following:

1. Comprehensive Understanding of Parking Concerns: This involves the collection and analysis of "true data," indicating a reliance on accurate and reliable information. Such data include details about parking capacity, occupancy rates, peak usage times and traffic flow, among other relevant metrics. Utilizing public input opportunities will encompass the perspectives of various stakeholders, such as residents, local businesses, commuters and visitors. This inclusive approach ensures the parking management plan is not solely based on quantitative data but also incorporates qualitative insights from the people directly affected by the parking situation.
2. Prompting the Need for a Parking Management Plan: The awareness of continued parking challenges is a catalyst for taking decisive action. The existing parking concerns can disrupt the local economy, create inconveniences for residents and visitors, and affect the overall quality of life in the town. Therefore, it becomes imperative to transition from identifying issues to proactively developing a parking management plan. This plan is expected to be a comprehensive strategy that will address current problems and mitigate future challenges.
3. Community-Centric Approach: The town's approach underscores the importance of involving the community in the decision-making process and prioritizes the needs and preferences of the people who live and work in Windsor. This approach recognizes that an effective parking management plan should align with the values and expectations of the local community.
4. Identification of Key Priorities: In the pursuit of a people-centric approach, the intention to identify what residents consider most important is imperative. This could encompass a wide array of concerns, from the need for better on-street time management to more accessible parking for individuals with disabilities. By pinpointing these priorities, the town can tailor its parking management plan to directly address the issues that matter most to the residents.
5. Long-Term Vision: The goal is not just to resolve the immediate parking issues but to create a parking management plan that will be relevant and effective for years to come. This highlights the commitment to developing a sustainable, adaptable and future-proof plan that can evolve with the changing needs and dynamics of Windsor's downtown area.

The town's dedication to addressing parking concerns in a holistic and community-driven manner is of utmost importance. By leveraging accurate data, incoporating public input and fostering ongoing community engagement, Windsor aims to create a parking management plan that is not only effective but also reflective of the desires and priorities of its residents, ensuring a more efficient and resident-centric approach to parking in the downtown area for the foreseeable future.

The 2020 Downtown Parking Study

Five miles east of the I-25 corridor, Windsor's historic downtown offered shopping, dining, and a variety of outdoor events for the local community and northern Colorado. In 2011, the Downtown Development Authority (DDA), now known as the Windsor Downtown Alliance (WDA) was formed with the intent of providing additional financial resources for investment within the district. In 2012, the DDA conducted a parking study to gain an understanding of parking needs within the corridor and identify opportunities for improvement. Eight years later, the Town of Windsor and the DDA partnered to reevaluate parking, taking recent community and business growth and seasonal parking trends into consideration. The Downtown Parking Plan provided the town, the DDA, and its constituents with a document that guided improvements and overall multi-modal networks downtown to ensure safety and public access.

The study goals included having a well-planned and coordinated parking system vital to the long-term fiscal health of the town and ensuring the continued viability of Windsor's small-town character. Through effective management, research, and planning, the town guided sustainable downtown growth. Research and public engagement began in 2020 and were approved by Windsor's Town Board during a public meeting held on Monday, July 11, 2022.

Story Map from the 2020 Downtown Parking Study

The following story map was used at the launch of the project.