City Unveils Valet Parking Service at Hillman Garage

A pilot program involving valet parking at Hillman Garage is aimed at making parking downtown easier, city officials said at a press conference Wednesday.

Mayor Josh Cohen said the service will effectively increase the number of parking spots at the downtown parking garage.

"Converting the lower deck of the garage to valet service on weekends and during special events, at no additional cost to our customers, will increase the garage capacity by 50 to 60 spaces," Cohen said.

The complementary service will be available on weekends and special events, according to a press release.

City Transportation Director Richard Newell explained how the service would mean extra spaces.

“The Hillman Garage currently supports 451 spaces, and because we can utilize driving lanes and maximize parking stalls, we can increase the footprint of the parking garage to benefit businesses, residents and visitors," Newell said.

Valet parking will be accessible from Gorman Street, where signs will direct drivers to choose between the valet service and the self-park option.

Officials said they would gauge the success of the valet service after its introduction to see if they should upgrade it to a permanent feature of the garage.