The new Berlin parking lot on West is pictured on on Sunday for the weekly farmers market. Town officials estimated more than 110 vehicles utilized the new lot last weekend.

By Tara Fischer

Staff Writer

(July 17, 2025) Progress at Berlin’s new parking lot, located on the corner of West and Washington streets, is moving along, with ongoing discussions about possible improvements, including signage, fencing, landscaping, pay-to-park software, and a recommendation to prohibit on-street parking in areas near the property.

The new car park, which opened last month, is expected to alleviate a lack of suitable parking in Berlin. The municipality has historically struggled to provide enough parking spaces, especially during popular events, when visitors and residents flock downtown. In recent years, an uptick in Berlin’s popularity has created enduring parking issues, as the supply was not enough to handle the number of vehicles finding their way into town.

Earlier this year, to address the challenge, the Berlin Mayor and Council entered into a 10-year lease agreement with William Esham, Jr., for a vacant 2.13-acre lot on the west side of West Street. The area will supply around 110 spots.

Now, officials are getting that lot up and running in time for the rest of the busy summer season.

At the Berlin Mayor and Council’s meeting on Monday, July 14, members of the parking subcommittee tasked with spearheading the creation of the new lot provided a project update to town residents and the council.

Berlin Mayor Zack Tyndall created the parking subcommittee, which includes Council members Steve Green and Jay Knerr, Town Administrator Mary Bohlen, Public Works Director Jimmy Charles and others. The group’s most recent progress report revealed that residents and visitors initially had access to the new lot during the town’s annual Bathtub Races on June 20.

“We learned some interesting feedback from that opening,” Tyndall said. “One, that people like to use the lot, which is good. Two … we can see that the lot is getting used, which is a good case study for why it’s important.”

The subcommittee members note that rolling out the car park will be a gradual process, with improvements and modifications made as needed. Tyndall said that at the group’s July 7 meeting, the parking team discussed upcoming changes and additions planned for the lot to improve accessibility and awareness of its existence.

Charles has installed new signage with the universal “P” symbol to denote parking on the lot. The team also hopes to eventually implement “park at own risk” signs to address any liability concerns.

The new lot will be promoted on the town’s social media channels to ensure visitors and residents are aware of its existence, especially ahead of significant community events, such as the weekly farmers’ market. According to Tyndall, the property has been added to the town’s Google Maps.

The subcommittee intends to obtain a quote for railroad ties or a similar type of framing to create a perimeter, or island, around the signs where cars can park. The horticulture committee will also likely assist with plantings on the interior of each island for aesthetic purposes.

Additionally, the group will solicit another quote for a wooden and vinyl fence for the West Street side and the Washington Street side of the parking lot.

Furthermore, the pay-to-park system ParkMobile will eventually be implemented for the car park, which the Town of Berlin hopes will help with the expenses on the 10-year lease.

Additional improvement efforts include removing the site’s “No Trespassing” signs, which Tyndall maintains have already been completed. Signage will also be added in town to direct people to the lot.

The mayor added that these improvements will be funded by the $75,000 earmarked in the fiscal year 2026 budget for the project.

“It was the stewardship of our finance director to place $75,000 in our FY26 budget for improvements to the lot,” Tyndall said. “So that’s where the improvements mentioned above, the creation of the island, the putting up of the fence, would come out of that funding.”

Per the creation of the new lot, Berlin law enforcement has recommended prohibiting on-street parking on the entirety of West Street, as well as making Washington Street from West Street to Broad Street a no-parking zone. These restricted sites will be indicated with signage.

Tyndall stated that residents or businesses affected by the change may contact the town via email to request special consideration. The mayor noted that these individuals may be given free access to the municipal lot for a year while they make accommodations.

The decision to create no on-street parking zones is aimed at ensuring public safety. West Street is already narrow. Adding a pay-to-park lot near a road with free parking could increase the number of vehicles lined up on that street, making it impossible for emergency vehicles to navigate through.

The no-parking recommendation has been met with some pushback. A handful of residents on West Street leave their cars on the road for various reasons, such as limited driveway space on their property.

Councilman Jack Orris asked how the town plans on alleviating any issues this action may have on Berlin citizens.

Resident Marie Velong addressed the council during the public comment period. She said that she believes banning on-street parking on West Street is unfair, and residents should be notified of the change well in advance.

“They need to know ahead,” she said. “They need to have this in their plans. It’s another case where business priorities take precedence over the residents of Berlin, and it annoys me. It’s the residents that are the bulk of this community.”

Tyndall said that he understands the concerns, but that the new lot will support Berlin as a whole.

“We hear at our level, and I’m sure it happens in social circles as well, people can’t find parking,” the mayor said. “If you’re a resident and want to come downtown, you can’t find parking, so this offers ways that our residential community, as well as the commercial district, can have mutual benefits.”

Tyndall added that the town will work to assist those affected by the new no-parking rule.

“If you’re impacted, we understand that that could come as a challenge initially,” he said. “To help you overcome that, all you have to do is bring us up to speed on what that challenge is, why you can’t meet your parking needs, and then we can grant 12-month use of this lot for no payment to residents or businesses if they can show this change in no parking directly impacts them.”

However, after the one-year grace period, Tyndall stated that businesses, residents and/or landlords should have made modifications to comply with the no-parking restriction.

The new parking lot’s early days seem to be successful, subcommittee members say. According to Green, at a town event last Saturday, 30 to 40 cars were parked in the new site. That number rose to 65 to 70 on the next day’s farmers market.

“Over the last two days, the 110 vehicles that have parked in that lot have helped our residents as well as our businesses,” Green said. “Street parking wasn’t utilized as much because there were people following the signage that was put up or using Google Maps to go to that lot. That was the idea: to have a place where people could go. I’m proud of that response we had.”

“It’s clear that people are finding it and using it and will continue to do so,” Knerr added.