Visitors and business owners strongly oppose the implementation of paid parking in Downtown Altoona.

Who is Impacted

This new plan creates barriers for:
 • Medical patients visiting downtown cardiologists and eye doctors—many of whom are elderly, have mobility issues, or poor vision.
 • Residents without smartphones, who are now expected to navigate a digital-first parking system or physically visit an office just to park.
 • Local businesses—including boutiques, coffee shops, and restaurants—that rely on easy, welcoming access to survive.

What’s at Stake

Currently, free parking makes Downtown Altoona accessible and attractive to locals and visitors alike. This plan complicates that with QR-code-only payments, multiple rate zones, and time limits—creating confusion and frustration. These are the same conditions that once drove customers to malls and strip malls instead of traditional downtowns.

When customers feel parking is confusing or stressful, they stop coming—and our downtown businesses will be the first to suffer.

Why We Must Act Now

Metropolis is currently in the process of rolling out a new parking system. With enforcement starting soon and more changes coming before Penn State Altoona students return in August, it may be difficult to reverse once in place.

City Council still needs to approve the plan. This is our chance to speak up.

We call on the City of Altoona and Metropolis to pause and reconsider the paid parking rollout and work with residents and business owners on a plan that truly serves the downtown community—not deters it.