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Superintendent sets May 1 parking sticker opening, explains fees and operational limits
Summary
The Parks Department will open the Washington Park sticker office May 1, with fees set for city, county and out-of-state users; staff explained why the office cannot open earlier and discussed plans to improve scanning to speed service.
The Michigan City Parks and Recreation Department said its Washington Park parking sticker office will open May 1 and operate Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m., excluding holidays. The department also said it will close the office July 3.
Staff outlined the 2025 sticker fees: free for Michigan City residents/taxpayers, $35 for La Porte County residents (a $5 increase approved in October), $100 for out-of-county in-state residents and $150 for out-of-state residents. Replacement stickers cost $20 for those who originally received a free sticker; special event parking will have a $40 fee for fireworks on July 4 (the boat race special fee applies to one day and the special event fee does not apply to valid city stickers).
Members of the public pressed the board to open sticker sales earlier or add a second location. Park staff and the superintendent said opening earlier would require hiring and supervising additional parking-office staff and posed security and staffing costs; staff said they are doubling shifts, adding clerks and working with the state to replace a buggy plate-scanning system to speed processing. Senior center members receive a discounted annual sticker ($28), staff added.
Several public commenters raised broader parking and access concerns for busy event weekends and suggested permit-only lanes and additional remote access points; staff said they are exploring scanning improvements and staffing changes to reduce lines.
No formal board action was required on the schedule and fees at this meeting because the board was reporting operational plans and previously approved fee changes; staff said they will provide updates as scanning and staffing changes are implemented.
