WILDWOOD, FL (352today.com) – Soon, it will be a lot easier to find a place to park in downtown Wildwood.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held for the city’s new parking garage, Sept. 13, 2024, at 9 a.m. The public is welcome to attend the event.
The structure will alleviate the problem of looking for a place to park in the growing and active downtown area as the four-level garage has 126 available spaces with four of those being served by two electric vehicle charging stations.
This garage is the first phase of what is a public-private partnership, a collaboration between G3 Development and the City of Wildwood. The structure will be owned by the city and will offer free parking in support of the downtown businesses and the municipal district.
If the elevator system testing is deemed safe and successful, the garage will be open for parking after the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“We have witnessed a shortage of parking in this area for some time,” said Jason McHugh, City of Wildwood city manager in a press release. “Wildwood has a multitude of small, independent businesses on Main Street, including retail and service-based companies, all of which stand to benefit immediately from the additional parking for their customers. As the downtown area continues to develop, the additional support infrastructure will be much more critical.”
The next phase of the public-private partnership will be known as the Railyard which the city says serves as the perfect complement for an already active and busy downtown district. This addition will feature 8,000 square feet of commercial space for indoor and outdoor dining and entertainment. Construction for the Railyard is expected to begin in early 2025.
“It has been gratifying to see the vision behind Wildwood’s Downtown Master Plan start to become a reality,” said McHugh. “I’m thrilled we are beginning to show our residents a return on their investment of time, thoughtful insight and feedback during our planning process.”
Ayres Associates, a consultant firm from Palm Coast, a consulting company based in Palm Coast, was a key player in making the project happen. The city says that they worked hard to include everyone by offering both online and in-person chances for the public to share their ideas. People could participate through brainstorming sessions, surveys, placemaking activities, interviews and discussions, all aimed at improving the downtown area for the growing number of residents
The goal of the plan and vision is to reduce traffic congestion through a variety of strategies. This will be done by making the downtown area easier to walk around in, with more green spaces and friendly spots that the community will enjoy.
The design of the state’s Complete Streets Study for Main Street/US 301 is included in the Florida Department of Transportation’s Five-Year Work Program and the Lake-Sumter Metropolitan Planning Organization’s List of Priority Projects.
For more information about Wildwood’s Downtown Master Plan, the parking garage and The Railyard, you can access wildwooddowntown.com.