Worthington City Council approved a contract with Kimley-Horn to conduct a comprehensive parking feasibility study for Old Worthington, responding to recommendations from the city's Vibrant Downtown vision team and advocacy from the Worthington Partnership.
Comprehensive Parking Analysis
The study will examine all aspects of parking in Old Worthington, from existing supply and demand to potential future needs. Rather than presuming solutions, Kimley-Horn's approach impressed city officials by focusing first on data-driven analysis.
"It wasn't telling us what they automatically wanted," explained Planning Director Lynda Brown. "We had a few firms talk about automatically leading off with the garage. And one of the things we really appreciated was there's all these other things that you can do and there's different scenarios we can go through that it wasn't just leading with what they thought we needed."
Beyond Traditional Car Storage
The study will explore multiple transportation options and parking alternatives, including bicycle parking, pedestrian access improvements, and coordination with COTA transit service on High Street. The analysis recognizes that effective parking management involves more than just adding spaces.
"What makes a great place is not a sea of parking," explained Robert Farron from Kimley-Horn. "Parking is never the highest and best use, and that's coming from a parking consultant. There are better uses than parking. It's about access to those uses that matter."
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Potential for Public-Private Partnerships
The study will examine opportunities for public-private partnerships that could address parking needs while meeting other city goals. This could include partnerships that provide additional housing downtown while creating shared parking arrangements.
Council President Rachael Dorothy asked about incorporating housing partnerships: "Would we be able to partner with some outside private company that might want to provide more housing downtown that we could then use this study to then show how we could partner with other people to provide housing?"
Farron confirmed this approach is part of their scope: "We often look at public private partnerships as an opportunity to gain both additional parking but also meet other city goals and aspirations."
Financial Sustainability Considerations
The study will include high-level cost feasibility analysis examining both capital costs and ongoing operating expenses for any recommended improvements. This includes exploring potential revenue sources and parking management strategies.
The analysis may consider parking benefits districts similar to the downtown TIF district, where parking revenues could be reinvested in downtown improvements. "Everything is on the table as part of this study," Farron noted.
Preserving Downtown Character
Council members emphasized the importance of maintaining Old Worthington's charm while addressing parking needs. Council Member David Robinson highlighted this challenge: "I think the number one description of the downtown that folks use is charming. And so creating additional parking and not in some way infringing or impinging or diminishing the charm is, I would say that would be my challenge."
The study will examine multiple locations including areas behind Whitney House on the east side and behind Worthington Tavern on the west side. Solutions could range from enhanced surface parking to structured parking that incorporates ground-floor retail or other active uses.
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Addressing Multiple Transportation Modes
The study recognizes that not everyone owns or needs a vehicle, particularly in Worthington's walkable downtown environment. The analysis will consider how to balance investments in car storage with other transportation infrastructure.
"We have a very walkable and bikeable community. We'd love to have people be able to live, work and play downtown," Dorothy noted. The study will examine how parking policies can support rather than undermine these community goals.
Community Engagement Process
Kimley-Horn plans a 20-week process with strategic stakeholder engagement to understand needs from business, employee, and resident perspectives. The firm emphasized sensitivity to "feedback fatigue" given other concurrent planning processes in Worthington.
Looking Forward
The study will examine existing assets including partnerships with local churches and municipal lots, seeking to optimize current resources before recommending new construction. The analysis will also address emerging needs like electric vehicle charging stations and ADA compliance with new federal guidelines.
The comprehensive approach aims to ensure that any parking improvements support rather than detract from Old Worthington's character as a charming, walkable downtown where people want to spend time, not just park and leave quickly.