2025 DOWNTOWN ABERDEEN PARKING STUDY
(LAND USE & PARKING NEEDS ANALYSIS)
Task 1 - Executive Summary: The June 9, 2025 memorandum summarizes a May 5 stakeholder meeting hosted by Walker Consultants and the Town of Aberdeen to address downtown parking needs. About 24 community members attended, with 75% agreeing parking is a problem. Key issues included limited walkability and crosswalks, employee parking displacement, ADA accessibility, and safety concerns at certain angled spaces. Stakeholders supported creating a balance of short- and long-term spaces, time-limited parking to improve turnover, and clearer signage and wayfinding. Additional ideas discussed included shared parking agreements, delivery and curbside zones, bike lanes, and hours-of-operation adjustments. Overall, there was strong consensus for updated parking regulations, particularly implementing time-limited parking, coupled with better communication and education to ensure public awareness and support.
Task 2 Executive Summary: Walker Consultants’ 2025 Parking Needs Analysis for Downtown Aberdeen projects a peak weekday parking demand of roughly 825 spaces, primarily driven by overlapping office, retail, and food service activity. With only about 595 existing spaces, the study identifies a 231-space deficit spread across several key corridors, most notably Main, South, Sycamore, and Poplar Streets. Using shared parking methodology, the report highlights how demand varies by time of day, season, and land use, and recommends strategies to balance employee and customer parking. Potential shared-use agreements and redevelopment opportunities could add 282 spaces, which would not only eliminate the deficit but create a modest surplus, especially in South and Exchange Street zones. The findings provide a roadmap for a long-term parking management plan that supports downtown vitality, accommodates growth, and improves access for both residents and visitors.
Task 3 Executive Summary: Walker Consultants’ 2025 Parking Inventory and User Allocation Plan for downtown Aberdeen found that peak weekday demand requires about 826 spaces, split between 491 short-term and 335 long-term needs. Existing supply of 595 spaces left a 231-space deficit, but incorporating potential shared-use lots increases the inventory to 977 spaces, creating a surplus of 151. The plan recommends designating core on-street and off-street spaces near businesses as short-term to maximize turnover, while assigning more peripheral areas for long-term employee and resident use. With this allocation, Aberdeen can not only meet current parking demand but also build flexibility for future growth, all without initially requiring parking meters—relying instead on time limits and monitoring to manage turnover.
