By Cahl Arnold

The parking situation within busy areas in Boulder is often overlooked in terms of impacts within residents’ daily lives. Free parking is scarce within the community, and the spots that are free are mainly designated for two-hour parking periods only, creating a competitive parking scene in Boulder.

Oftentimes, people feel less of an urge to drive downtown as they don’t want to join the competition for parking, nor do they want to pay money to park in a spot.  

The Pearl Street area within Boulder has a popular parking lot located on Spruce St. and Broadway. Measuring at about half a football field, this parking lot is heavily relied on by merchants within the area, the Hotel Boulderado and the First Congregational Church of Boulder. 

Recently, a private developer announced the lot will be torn down to build another hotel, demolishing a large influx of parking within the area. 

“People think we are only open on Sundays, but we have events going on every week and the removal of this parking lot might very well impact our congregation as well as surrounding business,” said Chris Braudway-Bauman, senior minister at the First Congregational Church.  

TEBO Properties, a real estate cooperation within Boulder, is worried about the impacts after the demolition of the parking lot as well.  

“We own a bunch of properties downtown, and our customers rely on this parking lot when coming into our office to speak with us,” said Ben Myers, a real estate agent for TEBO Properties. 

Local businesses across Boulder already suffer the effects of parking, many of them opposing the demolition for this reason. 

“We are hoping to get the word out, and gain lots of support from the community,” said Myers, after speaking on TEBO Properties’ role in opposing the demolition. 

A few blocks over at Boulder High School, a whole new issue of parking presents itself. Not only does the high school itself have a small lot reserved only for the senior class, but nearly all the nearby streets are reserved for either pay to park, or two-hour parking. 

“There used to be one street by the high school called Marine St. where some people could park for free, but besides that there was only two-hour parking,” said Stella Waters, a Boulder High School graduate. “This year, the City of Boulder requires anyone who parks in two-hour parking to have a permit which costs students a lot of money.”   

The City of Boulder is not shy when it comes to handing out parking tickets. In 2025 alone, Boulder’s parking management issued a total of 68,251 parking tickets, while Boulder’s police department issued another 3,053 parking tickets.

For many people, the risk of getting a ticket and the long search for parking in bustling areas gives them enough of a reason to find new ways to get downtown, or stay away from these areas entirely.