Until the recent installation of parking space kiosks downtown, it was not uncommon to see some employees of local businesses repeatedly stepping to the curb during the day to feed the parking meter and hang on to a parking space.

That has changed a little now — but only because the kiosks permit the purchase of four hours of parking at one time. Meters had to be fed more frequently than four-hour intervals.

Unfortunately, when downtown employees take up public parking spaces it means that people wanting to shop have a tough time finding an open space. In some instances, visitors just bypass the downtown area altogether.

City officials know that, and that is why they are encouraging downtown business owners and their workers to use satellite parking away from businesses.

Downtown Manager Ed Mullaney is hand-delivering letters written by the Cumberland’s Economic Development Coordinator Brenda Smith outlying the city’s concerns.

According to statistics from other Maryland Main Street communities throughout the state, one parking spot not made available to shoppers for one day is equivalent to a $172 loss to Main Street community businesses.

“It’s an average. But statistics also said that one parking space could, on average, mean as much as $50,000 to the businesses each year,” Mullaney said. “I would say a parking space on average could mean $170 for our downtown businesses. I think the $50,000 is a bit steep, but I think that we could put a parking spot at about $175 spent in the downtown area each day.”

While we feel that the $175 per space per day is high for Cumberland, there is no doubt that taking up parking spaces that could be used by downtown visitors has a negative impact on local businesses.

We encourage local businesses to heed the city’s request that outlying parking areas be used. It can only be good for business.