In a bid to address parking woes for downtown employees, the City of Gatlinburg is rolling out a new permit-only parking lot with the promise of fewer headaches for local workers. Today, those with eligible permits can park at the recently converted lot located at Bishop Lane and Stephen Drive, starting at 8 a.m.
The parking facility, initially a Mass Transit storage area, has been transformed into a 75-space lot exclusively for downtown business employees. This move, revealed by the City's announcement, follows the opening of the Newton Lane lot last year, now boasting 117 spots, and marks nearly 200 spaces earmarked for downtown workers.
City Manager Greg Patterson, championing the cause for local businesses and their employees, underscored the impact that this infrastructure could have on the economic landscape. “It is essential that the City provides practical solutions for the people who keep it running—our local workforce,” he told the Gatlinburg official website. “The City is committed to helping its businesses and their employees access their jobs more conveniently while also reducing strain on public parking resources. This is a meaningful investment in the Gatlinburg business community for their valuable employees.”
Permits to this new sanctuary of downtown employee parking can be snagged for $30 a month, available to anyone who can prove employment with a downtown Gatlinburg business. Workers desperate to ditch the parking pandemonium can purchase permits at the City’s Customer Service Center - 912 East Parkway - which accepts drive-thru transactions for added convenience, open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
