Ames To Increase Fines For Illegal Parking On Iowa State Football Game Days

From the City of Ames:

08/22/2019 9:30 AM

Game Day Parking Ordinance Increases Parking Fines on Home Football Games

Home games for Iowa State University football are exciting and fun for participants. However, illegal game day parking in neighborhoods near Jack Trice Stadium can create significant public safety concerns. Over the years, nearby streets have filled with illegally parked vehicles to the extent that safe access to residential streets is compromised. Blocked driveways and intersections, limitations on emergency vehicle access, and pedestrian hazards all contribute to neighborhood concerns.

To combat the increasing number of vehicles parking illegally during home football games, the Ames City Council approved the Game Day Parking Ordinance, which goes into effect during this fall football season. This ordinance increases fines for illegal parking from $20 to $40 in designated neighborhoods from 6 a.m. to midnight on home football game days. More than 500 signs have been posted in the impacted neighborhoods. On game days, those official signs will be supplemented with portable message boards, sandwich boards and yard signs reminding drivers of the change.

“We need drivers to pay attention to parking signs and not how other vehicles have parked in an area,” said Sheri Nelson, Parking Enforcement Coordinator. “The best way to avoid getting a parking ticket is to arrive early, obey the posted signs, and enjoy the football game.”

The first ISU home game will be against the University of Northern Iowa on Saturday, Aug. 31. There are seven home games total, with the final game against Kansas on Saturday, Nov. 23.

Legal parking is available in the game day lots on Iowa State University campus, as well as in additional campus lots, and along with certain residential streets as posted. Football fans are encouraged to walk, take CyRide, park remotely, or carpool as ways to reduce congestion near the stadium. For more information about neighborhoods included in the ordinance and legal parking options, go to www.CityOfAmes.org/GameDayParking.

This press release was produced by the City of Ames. The views expressed here are the author’s own.