BOW VALLEY – While both Canmore and Banff continue to mull over integrating paid parking systems, the local public school board might jump on the bandwagon as well.
During its meeting last Thursday (Nov. 28), Canadian Rockies Public School board said it’s considering a paid parking option for the summer months at its Bow Valley school locations.
“Quite frankly, I thought of this a long time ago,” said CRPS superintendent Chris MacPhee.
“Our Banff High School parking lot is filled all summer long. Put our own gate and a credit card machine in, this money goes directly into supporting our kids in the classroom.”
MacPhee said the paid parking would be for summer months, holidays and potentially weekends. It wouldn’t apply to staff working at the schools, they would instead receive a code or parking validation.
“I don’t know how much a parking lot would bring in, but my guess is Banff High School would be filled almost every day from the end of June right through to the beginning of September and even on the weekends afterwards – you can kick it back into gear on the weekends,” said MacPhee.
Carol Picard, CRPS board chair, asked about Lawrence Grassi Middle School parking lot, which is used during the Canmore Folk Music Festival quite heavily.
“It’s close to downtown, as well,” added Picard.
MacPhee said it would also be made into a paid parking lot, maybe even with an extra row of parking.
The topic was a brief one during the board’s regular meeting, with MacPhee adding more work needs to be done before it can be implemented.
“I think we need to do some checking on this and see what the position is, but I would be right on board with what both Town’s are talking about with paid parking, especially with the parking lots at those schools, as well as increasing the revenues to support our budget lines,” said MacPhee.
