Changes Made to Parking in Downtown Kent

Some temporary changes have been made to downtown Kent's public parking layout as businesses and residents await the opening of the Kent Central Gateway transit center and its more than 300 parking spaces.

After , city officials recently released two new maps showing the changes and new additions to downtown parking.

Among the changes are:

• 3-hour parking spaces were created on Gougler Avenue, South DePeyster and North Water streets
• Overnight parking has been created for downtown residents in the city-owned lot between Columbus Street and Alley 3
• Free, all-day public parking spaces were added at the south end of Franklin Avenue
• Guidelines were created for one-day, meeting and conference-specific parking passes

The new maps, and a letter from Kent Economic Development Director Dan Smith to downtown businesses, residents and groups explaining the changes, are all attached to this story.

You can print the new maps by clicking on the images attached to this story.

The temporary changes came about after discussions with people from all three downtown elements.

"These changes are the result of the public meetings Main Street Kent sponsored, (from) the Parking Action Committee meetings and from input we receive via email, phone calls and around town visits," Smith said.