Philly unveils parking crackdown near World Cup Fan Festival
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Philadelphia will crack down on non-resident vehicles parking around the World Cup Fan Festival at Lemon Hill during the tournament starting next month.
Why it matters: The massive party is pegged to draw roughly 15,000-20,000 people per day to Fairmount Park during the 39-day tourney, likely bringing traffic headaches to neighborhood streets.
Driving the news: Any vehicle parking within the special parking zone near the festival in North Philly will need a new permit from June 11 to July 19.
- Businesses in the area can also apply to get visitor day passes.
- The zone includes the Fairmount and Brewerytown neighborhoods, running from roughly the Rodin Museum to N 33rd Street and up to Cecil B. Moore Avenue to N 25th Street.
Plus: Expect increased patrols during that time.
- Violators will receive a ticket ($26), and their vehicle could be towed.
Worth noting: Residents with regular parking permits for the area must still get a special permit.
Between the lines: It's Philly officials' latest attempt to keep crowds from driving to the festival and push visitors toward public transit and rideshares.
- The city isn't providing extra parking spaces for the area, which already has limited parking.
What they're saying: Dustin Dove, president of the Fairmount Civic Association, tells Axios the association is concerned about how little time residents and businesses have to apply for a permit after months of talks with the Parker administration.
- The association also has lingering questions about the plan, Dove added, like how to protect businesses within the parking area as well as how neighborhood streets just outside the area will be affected.
- Nonetheless, he said the "parking permit is the right solution."
How it works: Apply online or at the parking authority's permit office at 35 N. 8th St.
- Permits are free.
- Applications require proof of residency — like a utility bill or driver's license — and a Pennsylvania vehicle registration.
🙋♀️ For residents: No physical tag for approved license plates. Instead, they'll be added to the parking authority's virtual system for verification.
- Visitor passes: Two physical tags per household, which must be picked up at the parking authority's permit office or scheduled community events.
- Plus: Residents without a vehicle can receive visitor passes.
💼 Businesses: Up to 10 physical visitor day passes per business.
- These must be picked up at the parking authority's permit office.