We, the undersigned residents and businesses of Kansas City, submit this petition to request an immediate review and reversal of the unfair parking rates imposed specifically on the River Market area. The increased rates in this district, compared to other parts of the city, are not only burdensome but also discriminatory. We believe that the city should promote fairness and equity in its policies across all neighborhoods.

In other areas of Kansas City, businesses and their patrons still enjoy favorable parking rates and/or free two-hour parking. Collectively, the businesses of the River Market and the people who work in them are suffering immensely. Several businesses have already relocated to areas where the parking is more favorable for their customers and their employees.

Due to the lack of revenue in recent months, and the cost of parking since the implementation of the new parking restrictions and/or rates, businesses in the River Market area have begun losing quality employees, and customers.

We believe that we are being unfairly targeted due to the KC Current Stadium and the City’s shortsighted initiatives.

Background
In recent months, the River Market area has been subject to significantly higher parking fees compared to the rest of the city. These increased rates disproportionately affect local businesses, residents, and visitors. As a historic and vibrant district, the River Market relies heavily on regular patronage from locals and tourists alike. However, the inflated parking fees have deterred many from frequenting the area, impacting both community morale and economic growth.

Our Concerns
1. Economic Impact on Local Businesses: The steep parking rates have led to a decline in foot traffic, directly harming small businesses that are already facing challenges in a competitive and poor economic environment.

2. Burden on Residents: Many residents in the River Market area find themselves paying unfairly high parking rates simply because of where they live. This creates unnecessary financial stress and diminishes the quality of life in the neighborhood.

3. Discouragement of Tourism and Recreation: Visitors to our city are less likely to visit the River Market area when faced with higher parking fees, despite it being one of the city’s most important cultural and historical districts.

4. Lack of Fairness Across the City: Other neighborhoods and business districts in the city are not subject to these inflated rates, creating an inequitable distribution of parking costs.

5. During KC Current games patrons are forced to pay $30 to park in the area to have dinner or to walk around and shop, even though the stadium is not in walking distance.

Our Request
We respectfully call on the City Council and local officials to:

• Immediately review the parking rates in the River Market area and align them with rates in other parts of the city.

• Implement a fair and consistent parking policy that treats all neighborhoods equally.

• Consider introducing reduced or subsidized parking options for residents and businesses in the River Market district.

• Encourage economic growth in the River Market area by making it a more attractive and accessible destination for all.

By signing this petition, we express our support for a fair parking policy that does not disproportionately burden any single neighborhood or its residents.

We hope that city officials will hear our collective voice and work toward a solution that promotes equity and supports the well-being of our community.