IDAHO GOES DOWN To make downtown Idaho Falls a destination where people want to spend their time and money, the Idaho Falls Downtown Development Corporation (IFDDC) organizes a number of seasonal events, including the Idaho Falls Farmers Market and Alive After 5.
I’m not sure if you’ve attended the farmers market or the live performances on the Green Belt Riverwalk, but it’s fantastic. These take place on Tuesdays, and the Idaho Falls Civitan Club’s Alive After Five has relocated. According to Kerry Hammon, executive director of the Idaho Falls Downtown Development Corporation, it was in the heart of downtown but has since expanded to the Riverwalk as well, and those are only getting bigger with more people.
IFDDC is planning a variety of events downtown that will appeal to almost everyone. In addition to the concerts, Hammon mentioned a couple.
However, we have a lot more events. According to Hammon, IFDDC hosts 20 events in downtown each year. I enjoy listening to local music, but we also have spring brew, summer brew, and Oktoberfest. Since I’m Irish, my favorite event is Patty’s Day on Park. Then comes Halloween, which I adore dressing up for.
However, not every program hosted by IFDDC is exclusively aimed at adults. Additionally, the organization hosts an Easter season event where kids can look for Easter Bunnies in downtown businesses.
To give the youngsters an opportunity to participate as well, we collaborate with local companies and place tiny Easter Bunnies in the eateries. Come down here with your family and go shopping, Hammon said. Our events aim to get visitors into the downtown area.
In addition to the activities, IFDDC has focused on beautifying downtown areas by dimming street lamps, hanging flower baskets, or installing flower pots to make the streets feel cozier and encourage people to take their time and appreciate the area. Making downtown Idaho Falls a unique and improved experience is the aim.
According to Hammon, we collaborate with the city to improve beautifying initiatives for events and carry out activities that draw people to the downtown area. Of course, there is also a section of it that concentrates on attracting tourists and retaining those monies in the downtown area.
In general, the organization’s efforts have been effective—possibly too successful. Parking management is becoming a problem as more and more people move downtown.
According to Hammon, we are now focusing on enhancing our enforcement and parking management. That’s what’s going to happen in October.
An app-based parking meter will be the new solution that is being suggested.
Instead of traditional parking meters littering the sidewalks, the app will work similarly to ordinary meters. The paid parking is intended to increase the number of persons entering and departing downtown. If you’ve lately visited downtown, you’ve undoubtedly noticed that parking is extremely scarce in some areas.
On-street parking is currently only permitted for two hours, but with the launch of the app, there will be a four-hour paid parking limit. It will cost $1 for the first hour, $2 for the second and third, and $10 for the fourth. Visitors to the downtown area will be issued a $20 citation after the four hours have passed. When a user’s time is about to run out, the app will notify them.
The four-hour limit was chosen to provide for sufficient parking spot turnover while yet providing downtown tourists with enough time, for example, to go to dinner and watch a movie.
Hammon likened it to restaurant turnover. While having every table occupied is a good thing, a procedure must still be in place to accommodate additional guests. The same holds true for parking in the downtown area.
The organization hopes that the new parking system will encourage shoppers to make room for those attempting to enter downtown, while also keeping parking in the downtown area reasonably priced so as not to deter people from visiting in the first place.
In addition to the existing paid parking lots downtown, guests who choose not to use the app can still park for free in the lots located between Yellowstone Avenue and the railroad lines.
The picture below shows the location of the parking modifications.
