Lack of Winter Prompts Major Rochester Parking Change

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- It appears Spring has arrived early in Rochester. 

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Aside from a stretch of arctic temperatures in January, Rochester and southeastern Minnesota has avoided the worst of winter weather so far with a lack of snowfall and warm temperatures. 

Social Ice still went on last month in downtown Rochester despite the mild weather, a familiar winter sight for Minnesota’s third-largest city. A less familiar sight is golfers taking to Rochester’s Soldiers Field Memorial Golf Course in early March, but that is what happened last week when the historic golf course marked a rare early March opening day. 

The early start of the springtime activity has now been coupled with the early end of what some would view as a winter irritant. On Tuesday the city of Rochester announced the decision to suspend enforcement of the city’s seasonal parking restrictions, mainly alternate side parking. 

During a normal winter Rochester residents who park on the street are required to have their vehicle parked on the side of the street with even address numbers on even-numbered dates and on the side of the street with odd-numbered addresses on odd dates. 

The ordinance is in place to allow city snow plows room to push snowbanks up and over curbs to prevent the snow from narrowing the city’s streets. Officials are asking residents to voluntarily observe alternate side parking if a large snowstorm hits the area this month.

The ordinance usually takes effect in November and continues daily from 2 a.m. until 3 p.m. through March 31. 

“We appreciate residents and guests following the seasonal parking requirements. While the team might not have been plowing snow as in a typical winter, they were out sweeping streets and conducting other maintenance activities that benefitted from alternate side parking practices, ” Public Works Director Wendy Turri said. 

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