Starting July 6 the hours of paid parking at the city-owned Lake Street Lot will be expanded to 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., with a four hour time limit.

Currently, paid parking is from 5-9 p.m. Charging for parking throughout the day will help increase turnover, making it easier to find a parking place at this popular lot. The cost remains $1 per hour. Payment machines are located at the north and south ends of the lot.

All day paid parking has been suggested throughout the past decade by the city’s former Parking Advisory Board to help create parking turnover. In an April 1, letter to the City Council, the Kirkland Chamber of Commerce recommended that the City charge for parking in the Lake Street parking lot.Kirkland has a parking validation program for merchants to reward customers for supporting local business and help offset the cost of parking on the next visit.  Kirkland is also exploring alternative parking validation programs that provide more immediate, same-day benefit to customers.

Revenue from parking fees support ongoing efforts to enhance the parking opportunities for those who work, shop and live in Kirkland. Initial improvements include upgrades to the Kirkland Library garage, improved directional signs and development of new parking supply. More actions may follow in the coming months.

In another effort to improve parking, two-hour parking on Market Street from Central Way to 4th Street and four-hour parking along Market Street from 4th Street to 6th Street are now in effect. These modifications replace all-day parking and will allow for more turnover, thus providing more parking.For questions, please contact Kathy Robertson, Kirkland Public Works at krobertson@kirklandwa.gov or 425-587-3870.