WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – As of Jan. 1, 2025, free parking in downtown Wichita could be coming to an end . The idea of having to pay for parking has many fearing that it could change Wichita for the worse.
After talking to people in downtown, Old Town and Delano, the consensus is clear: nobody likes the idea.
Jesse Hernandez and Valerie Romero, who were in the middle of an afternoon picnic in Naftzger Park, visit downtown Wichita at least once a week. With Wichita making the switch to paid parking, they plan on coming out much less.
“I know, like, we probably won’t be out doing this much. At least in this area,” Hernandez said.
“It’s a park, you know? You want to come and hang out and enjoy the weather and what’s new down here. Now you have to take that into consideration,” Romero said.
Similar sentiments echoed in Delano, where Brad Magnus frequents. He works as a waiter for a small business, and if paid parking stops customers from coming in, it means fewer tips for servers like him.