The Town of Drumheller (TOD) is going to have paid parking for tourists starting this spring. From May to October, the town proposes there will be paid parking on town-owned lots. Municipal parking lots, the Aquaplex and the Badlands Community Facility will be the main focus. Downtown and personal properties will not be included. However, The Rosedale Suspension Bridge and HooDoos along highway 101 will be a part of the paid parking program.
The town ran a pilot project in October, 2023 for 31 days to introduce residents to the program. There is a user-friendly app, Hotspot, that 305 residents downloaded as of November 1st, to register for the trial. “People were unsure about it,” explains Drumheller Mayor Heather Colberg, “the more they learned, though, they understood. This is a way, because of our tourism, to gain money from visitors. We have to continue to educate our residents so they understand we are looking for ways to offset the cost of tourism to our taxpayers.”
The pilot project has been a great way to find loopholes and to create a way to explain and educate residents about it. It will be free to park for residents that register on Hotspot for a maximum of 4 vehicles per household, possibly more. Mayor Colberg is hoping that the town will garner “Parking Angels” by early February to assist with helping people register that may need it. “Council is working with administration to set up a list of locations for residents that need help registering,” says Mayor Colberg.
People living out of town, but working in Drumheller are eligible for exemption. Town Council is still in discussions with the Reeves of each County to find a solution that would offset the costs of others who live out of town but use the Auqaplex and Badlands Community Facility regularly.
The costs to tourists will be $2.00/hr in Parking lots, $2.50/hr for street parking and $20.00/day.
