More free parking wrong approach for Como Park

Free parking in an urban area is a myth.  That’s what leading scholars say.  In his book, The High Cost of Free Parking, UCLA Professor Donald Shoup writes how free parking increases emissions and congestion and is an inefficient use of land. Shoup has conducted cost-benefit analyses, indicating charging for parking cannot only help the environment, but also play a role in helping cash-strapped cities (such as St. Paul).

Locally, groups like Transit for Livable Communities (www.tlcminnesota.org) also promote a sensible approach to trips. Take Como Park as an example. With 85 percent of travelers arriving to Como from outside of St. Paul each year, innovations like the new park-and-ride shuttle are a welcome alternative. Yet, the Como Shuttle has no permanent spot and, unlike its counterpart, the car, receives no government subsidy. 

An effort is under way to redesign Como Park to be more user-friendly, safe and eco-friendly. Concepts include possibly creating more surface or below-ground parking, in addition to improved utilization of nearly a dozen existing surface lots. 

St. Paul sees itself as a livable community, at the same time looking to other cities like its twin for a viable parks business model. However, unlike Minneapolis, there is no dedicated taxing authority, causing St. Paul to consolidate parks and recreation centers while seeking revenue from outside sources. 

In contrast, roughly 50 percent of public parks in Minneapolis have some form of paid parking. Perhaps most notable:  no major urban zoo in the United States offers both free admission and free parking. Creating incentives to fund and use the shuttle by charging for existing or new parking is a smart solution.

Aside from the immediate, there are long-term impacts from over reliance on nonrenewable fossil fuels. We can take steps today that are cost- effective now and in the future. Como Park hosted 3.4 million visitors in 2009. These citizens, including frequent and nearby users of the park, have an opportunity to make a positive impact.  

City staff will begin making decisions to meet a growing parking demand on Como Park soon.  Contact your elected city representative or district council member to see or comment on parking concepts under consideration, or send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Marsha Milgrom, M.P.A.

Como Park

Editor’s note: the letter writer sent a chart that listed admission and parking prices at a number of U.S. zoos. Some examples are Bronx Zoo, N.Y., $16 admission, $13 parking; Cincinnati Zoo, $12 admission, no on-site parking; Denver Zoo, $13 admission, free parking; Memphis Zoo, $15 admission, $5 parking; and Oregon Zoo (Portland), $10.50 admission, $2 parking.

SAP clinic offered quality care with personal compassion

Four generations of our family have been treated at the St. Anthony Park Clinic [on Como Avenue]. Dr. David Gilbertson has been the family physician not only to us, but also to Arla’s mother, to our daughter, Anne, and to Anne’s children. Individual family members received quality healthcare that was augmented by personal compassion. For as long as anyone can remember, there has been a doctor’s office on the corner of Doswell and Como.

Visits to the doctor’s office that are comfortable, caring and successful will be missed when the St. Anthony Park Clinic closes. Nothing will ever replace it for us.

Paul and Arla Savage