El Paso Might Raise Downtown Ballpark Parking Meters To $2.50 An Hour

Would you pay $2.50 an hour to park downtown? The City is considering raising the hourly on parking meters around the Downtown ballpark, just a month after they said no to free metered parking during El Paso Chihuahuas game days.

The ordinance to raise parking meter rates will be introduced during today’s Council meeting, but the public won’t be able to comment on it unless the introduction is approved. The City will then hold a public hearing on April 1st when Council will vote to approve or reject the changes.

Right now, parking meter rates are 75 cents an hour around the ballpark, and you only have to pay to park from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The City is also proposing extending those hours to 10 p.m., and charging for parking on Saturdays, which are currently free.

Revenue from downtown parking meters is currently being used to pay off the Plaza Theatre renovation debt. The contract between the City and MountainStar Sports Group, owners of the El Paso Chihuahuas, say they both share in revenues from the city-owned parking garages, but not specifically from the parking meters. Parking meter revenue can be used for other things including to help pay off the ballpark debt.