Charlottetown seeking solutions to Victoria Park parking problem

One member of Charlottetown City Council is highlighting the need for more parking at Victoria Park.

Mike Duffy, the city's deputy mayor, said the growing popularity of the park, and its facilities, have put a strain on the parking already available.

"There is no parking left in the evenings, particularly with the swimming pool and new playground equipment," said Duffy.

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Duffy said there is a solution turn a piece of land next to Memorial Field into a parking lot. Duffy said many people already use the land to park, but that it isn't in the best condition to do so.

"There's craters there, there's boulders separating one half from the other," said Duffy.

'We have a dire shortage of parking'

Duffy said that if the land was properly re-purposed it could create 100 parking spaces, which he estimates would be at least 25 more than can park on the land now.

"People are parking there now, we have a dire shortage of parking, so why don't we make it a little easier for the folks that are parking," said Duffy.

Duffy said the project wouldn't cost much, as it would only entail some grating and leveling of the land.

"This is not a vast project, this is not a construction project. It's just a matter of leveling out a piece of land that [isn't even] grass now, but red clay," said Duffy.

Duffy said the proposal will be brought up at the next park and recreation committee meeting.

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