CLEARFIELD – With Clearfield County looking to move county offices into downtown Clearfield and the future loss of the parking lot next to the YMCA, parking was discussed at Tuesday’s Clearfield County Commissioners meeting.
Park & Shop President Terry Malloy presented the commissioners with a possibly-bleak outlook for parking in downtown Clearfield in future. According to Malloy there are 509 parking (metered and empty pole) spots in downtown Clearfield; there are six are handicap parking spots; there are eight loading/unloading zones and eight private/reserved/free spots. This total of 531 does not include the approximately 50 spots in the former YMCA and Clearfield Diner lot that will be eliminated once the YMCA project is completed.
Malloy said that once that spot is gone, it will be the equivalent of losing parking spaces on both sides of Second Street from the Main Won to the post office intersection. Malloy said the county’s Multi-Service Center on Leonard Street has about 90 parking spaces for county employees and those who utilize services at the offices located in that building. Using that number, Malloy said that when that traffic comes to the downtown, it will be the equivalent of losing the parking on both sides of Locust Street.
Malloy said that in April 2009 a group of municipal leaders, county officials and business leaders met to discuss the parking problem facing downtown Clearfield once the YMCA project is completed.
“It was not a complaint session, but what we could do to move forward,” said Malloy.
He added that those who attended were asked to help locate properties downtown that might be feasible for a new parking lot. Malloy said that while there were options, none of the deals went through.
“It takes multiple properties to make a lot,” said Malloy. He said that he felt as though he failed in his search for a new parking area.
Malloy said that to help find new parking in Clearfield, Park & Shop pledged $50,000 toward the development of a new parking area in the core of downtown Clearfield. He said they were looking to partner with other organizations, businesses or municipal entities but that no one came forward. Malloy said that on Dec. 11 Park & Shop purchased the Limerick lot, across the street from Zalno’s Jewelers.
Commissioner Chair Joan Robinson-McMillen said the commissioners understand there will be parking issues. She said they are exploring three options and are looking at an option from the Elks.
“We’d like to look at it optimistically,” said McMillen. She added that while additional parking traffic will come downtown, it also brings potential shoppers.
Malloy indicated skepticism. He said that while the county may provide parking a few blocks away from the Gray building, it wouldn’t mean the employees would use it. He pointed to efforts by Clearfield Borough and Park & Shop to take meters away from the outside of the downtown core to encourage those who work downtown to park there. He said they don’t. He added that it’s a perception that people need to park close to where they are going.
“More importantly than where we’re putting the county employees is where we put shoppers and YMCA users,” said Malloy.
Commissioner John Sobel asked Malloy if he would be willing to sit on an advisory board to help find parking downtown. Malloy indicated he would work on anything to help solve the problem.