UPDATE 1/28/2026:

Mayor LaGrand has released the following statement:

"At a recent Mobile GR Commission meeting, I participated in a brainstorming discussion about ways to encourage greater use of parking ramps as one tool to support downtown mobility. As one of thirteen commissioners, I shared broad, exploratory thoughts as part of an open conversation, not a specific proposal or plan.

These types of impromptu and spontaneous conversations are not unique to public bodies, but they should not be confused with intentional and well-researched policy development.

Available street parking is vital for downtown and neighborhood businesses, and the City is committed to working closely with business owners to maximize convenience for customers and create the conditions for businesses to thrive. Long-term parking in ramps helps keep short-term, on-street spaces available so shoppers can get in and out quickly and easily.

 

There is currently no proposal before the City of Grand Rapids to raise on-street parking rates, nor has City staff recommended an increase. The City remains attentive to how parking costs affect residents, employees, businesses, and visitors, especially amid ongoing economic uncertainty.”

 - Mayor David LaGrand

Original Article:

Going to downtown Grand Rapids is a double-edged sword: there are so many fun and exciting things to do in town, but the downside is that you have to find a spot around the city. For me, I will drive around as many times as it takes to find a parking spot on the street. I do not think I have ever paid to park in a ramp, I'm just too dang cheap.

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It seems the city is more than aware that most people prefer to park on the street rather than pay for the ramp, which is why it has made numerous changes to street parking in recent years.

But its biggest change could come very soon: Grand Rapids Mayor LaGrand has proposed raising street parking from $2 to $6 an hour, a very steep jump.

MobileGR's Proposed Parking Plan

During the January 14th Mobile GR Commission Meeting, a representative from Flywheel (a firm working with the City to support city planning) presented an idea for how the City could better utilize and profit from parking in Grand Rapids.

READ MORE: Explaining Odd/Even Parking In Grand Rapids

What Arielle with Flywheel said, in summary: something needs to change with parking, and she introduced an incentive program that would reward workers who chose to park in garages.

While a number of commissioners disagreed with the policy suggestion, Mayor LaGrand wants to see change, and the changes focus on getting people off the street and into parking garages. Drastically raising prices for street parking would leave more space for "convenience parking", quick trips, and encourage those staying longer to park in a garage:

"I don't know if we could raise rates and say, Guess what? We're going to raise the parking rates downtown from two bucks an hour to six bucks an hour, and half of that increase is going to go to public safety,"

He did preface that he was spitballing the idea and price, so this isn't a concrete idea, but he feels that "jacking up the price of street parking" and "pointing out" where that revenue is going would help push people into ramps. He also believes it would push people into local stores.

Parking downtown has been a hot topic for quite some time, especially because of concerns that there will not be enough parking for the nearly 18,000 visitors to the new amphitheater and soccer stadium. Then, last year, the city changed its free street parking time from 6 to 7.

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Whether the street parking rates change again feels like an inevitable, more than a what-if, but it is all just talk at the moment.