
'They don't have a ton of money!' rage drivers left fuming over 'premium' parking fines outside children's attraction | 39D0J3C | 2024-05-11 12:08:01
FAMILIES are up in arms over new parking fees at a popular children's attraction, causing added difficulties for parents traveling with kids.
Despite the museum having a parking garage, one mom said she's had to park even farther in spots where she doesn't have to pay – even though she was able to use it for free in the past.


Katey Yoder had to walk through lanes of cars with her daughter who's just over 1 year old at Indiana's Children's Museum of Indianapolis for an Easter Egg Hunt, local news outlet The Indianapolis Star reported.
The mom said that she had to walk through lanes of cars with her small child to avoid coming out of pocket for the museum's new parking rates.
The garage was practically empty but her only options were to park further away or pay to park in spaces that had been free when she visited previously.
The museum parking is available from Friday through Sunday for $10 a visit.
The change in the parking policy is meant to offset rising operating costs.
From Thursday through Saturday, premium parking for the museum is assigned to 48 spaces on the second and third levels of the garage's east side.
That's the side closest to the museum and premium parking for the spots starts at $5 for the visit.
Special events and peak visitation times could cause prices to change as well.
As the museum has valet parking and premium parking options that started in March, many parents have to suffer the same fate.
Juggling diaper bags while walking with kids and any other added difficulties make the visit a pain, especially for single moms, Yonder explained.
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There are other problems that arise because of the parking changes for parents with medical issues.
For instance, Yonder's best friend's recent trip to the InfoZone library inside of The Children's Museum was more than a notion.
"They don't necessarily have a ton of extra money right now," Yoder said.
"They had to park at the very back of the like fourth floor of the parking garage, like as far away as possible… Because the parking garage was so full and because people didn't want those spots,
<p class="article__content--intro"> Parking on a public street is generally legal, even in front of someone's house, experts say. </p> </div> </div>
"She then had to take her kindergartener and her 1-year-old into the museum and walk across and then they get their books, and then she has to lug these two bags of books and these two kids all the way across."
The added parking options are meant to act as more revenue for the museum's exhibits, facility, and garage upkeep.
It's supposed to also go toward community outreach for underserved families and staff pay, according to the museum's vice president of operations Audra Blasdel.
"To avoid (further) burdening members and visitors with these costs, the museum is trailing out several new revenue streams focused on providing enhancements," Blasdel explained.
"Versus charging more to all visitors."
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