Blowing Rock Police Will Focus On Closer Monitoring Of Downtown Parking Regulations

Motorist parking in the downtown area of Blowing Rock are reminded that with the approach of the busy summer season, local police officers will begin closer monitoring of traffic and parking especially along Main Street, Sunset Drive and other streets that accommodate the bulk of the congestion of the town’s business area.
“Traditionally we have been very lenient in our enforcement of parking in the downtown area during the quieter winter months,” said Blowing Rock Police Chief, Eric Brown. “As we see more and more traffic in our busy season our officers must be more aggressive in controlling and discouraging violators of municipal regulations.”
Chief Brown said this week that a more focused enforcement of the towns downtown parking regulations will begin on April 30th and continue throughout the summer and autumn months.
“Our enforcement will focus on not only the two hour parking limit, but also on parking in spaces facing the wrong direction, where driver’s must cross traffic to enter or leave a parking space,” said Chief Brown. He also said officers will more closely monitor parking in no parking zones, fire lanes, blocking a fire hydrant, parking in handicap spaces and loading zones.
Improper parking (taking up more than one space) and blocking streets and right-of-ways will also result in an officer reaching for his citation book.
“The town’s two hour parking regulation is enforced from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. every day, while other parking regulation violations will be enforced at all times,” Chief Brown said.
For years the Merchants Association has joined police and municipal officials in encouraging downtown shop owners and employees to seek off-street parking or parking in lots on the outskirts of the main shopping district. That effort will continue this year, not just on weekends but throughout the week.
To meet the much needed parking demands in the central business district, the Town of Blowing Rock is working toward building a parking deck on South Main at Chestnut Street and Wallingford, and a second is being evaluated and designed for Wallingford Street at the American Legion parking lot adjacent to Broyhill Park.