How $310k was parked
Scrapping New Plymouth’s free Saturday parking clawed back $310,000 over 12 months, and the money has been spent on sprucing up the city centre and supporting events to attract shoppers, councillors have been told.
Free parking ended in June 2017 after a year-long trial, and New Plymouth District Council has spent the income on the central business district (CBD).
The activities were delivered through the See it in the City (SITC) project, which aimed to create more vibrancy in the heart of New Plymouth and support business, community partnerships lead Callum Williamson said in a report to the council.
A new role of central city facilitator (CCF) was created to oversee the project and work with the council and businesses.
The events supported included a See it in the City Market Day, a yoga and music session called Shapes & Sounds, a Taranaki restaurant week called FEASTival and the See it in the City ice skating rink at Egmont St carpark.
‘‘Council officers saw a gap in the event calendar between Americarna and WOMAD, and felt there could be some bridging of these major events,’’ Williamson said in his report.
‘‘Community-led events, with the support of NPDC, were held to
‘‘Council officers saw a gap in the event calendar between Americarna and WOMAD, and felt there could be some bridging of these major events.’’ Callum Williamson
fill the summer period, as well as deliver activities in the traditionally quiet winter.’’
The events received a positive response from retailers, Williamson said. ‘‘A CBD survey was completed asking retailers how they thought the events supported their businesses. Sixtyeight per cent of businesses noticed significantly more foot traffic, and 70 per cent of respondents involved their business some way during an event.’’
Other projects, which also used other sources of funding, included a pavement upgrade and lighting in Huatoki Ln, herbs planted in planter boxes to support FEASTival, and partnering with the Business and Retail Association to get businesses involved and creating their own projects, such as decorating shop fronts for Americarna.
A Central Business District Strategy will begin this year to support the ongoing development of the New Plymouth CBD.