Washington council considers allowing more parking by Neal Sportsplex in winter months
Washington city council is eyeing a proposed change to its parking rules to allow more parking near the Vernon C. Neal Sportsplex next to Washington Park during colder months.
The proposal would ease restrictions and would ban parking on the east side of the stretch of Dunn Avenue that passes the facility only from May 1 to Sept. 1 each year.
The city code now bars parking year-round on that side of the street from Park Road to the stone pillars at Washington Park’s main gate.
City council is expected to vote on the proposed change on Thursday.
Mayor Scott Putnam said it would allow people to park near the facility “when the park’s not really being utilized.”
“It’ll help our patrons to be able to park closer to the facility,” said Harry Sanders Jr., general manager of the sportsplex.
He said most of the events there take place in the evening during the week, but occur all day during weekends.
The facility has an indoor arena where teams play soccer, flag football, volleyball and hockey. It’s owned by the nonprofit Brownson House.
Jon Celani, Brownson House executive director, said some parking is available close to the facility, but some people headed there have to find spots elsewhere in the park and walk to the facility.
“What it does is it provides us with a little bit of extra parking in front of the facility,” Celani said.