City council vote means more parking for Rays fans

Monday, August 25, 2008

Post a comment | E-mail this story | Print

The parking problem started as the Rays started to win more games.

PINELLAS COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- The St. Petersburg City Council is changing a parking law requirement that opens up hundreds of new parking spots for potential Tampa Bay Rays fans.

Existing businesses will be allowed to use their parking lots as commercial parking lots without having to do substantial improvements to it.

"My best guess for you would be approximately a 1,000 spaces could become available," said Ms. Weston with St. Petersburg Development Services.

The parking problem started as the Rays started to win more games.

More Information

Up to 30,000 fans are now attending home games but there's only 9,000 parking spaces around Tropicana Field, forcing hundreds of fans to park illegally.

Residents who live near the Trop say they can help ease the parking problem even more and are asking the city to allow them to park cars on their yards.

The city council may take up the idea at a future meeting.