WILMINGTON — The City of Wilmington has officially expanded its Residential Parking Program, adding restrictions to five blocks downtown that deter commercial and other non-residential uses.
City council unanimously approved the expansion of the program Wednesday on the heels of a nine-month pilot program that began in February.
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First launched in 1996 to protect 10 blocks of downtown for residential uses, the parking program aims to protect the character of residential districts. In 2003, it expanded by adding hourly limits in certain areas for non-residential permit holders.
The decision to expand the program by five blocks is designed to reconciling resident needs with commercial needs.
New restrictions apply to the:
- 200 and 300 block of South Second Street
- 100 and 200 block of Ann Street
- 200 block of Orange Street
For the four blocks, except for the 200 block of South Second Street, parking is restricted to a one-hour limit for non-permit holders between 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Between 5:30 p.m. and 3 a.m., only permit-holders can occupy spots in these areas.
As for the 200 block of South Second Street, six spots (about 20% of the block) in front of the Children’s Museum of Wilmington will have one-hour parking for non-permit holders between 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. The city will enforce permit-only parking between 9 a.m. and 3 a.m. on the majority of the block.
During the pilot program, the children’s museum identified issues with the restrictions impacting its visitors. Problems were later rectified in a meeting held with residents and city officials.
Residents shared positive feedback with the city about the program—primarily expressing relief they no longer had to vie for parking in front of their homes. Forty-year Second Street resident Michael Smith told council the pilot program was a success.
“For the first time in years, we no longer dreaded returning to our homes, unable to find a place to park,” he said at Thursday’s meeting.
City parking manager Chance Dunbar said the city may consider further expanding the program in the future, but given the pandemic’s impacts on commercial activity, there is currently no pressing need to do so.
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