Cherry Creek Shopping Center To Adopt Parking Fee System

DENVER (CBS4) - Fees for parking at Cherry Creek Shopping Center will go into effect next year.

The news first was revealed in a news release the mall sent out on Thursday. A parking system will be implemented at the beginning of the year that they refer to as "Smart Parking."

Managers says the system is being set up in an effort to make it easier for shoppers and people who eat at restaurants in the mall to quickly find spaces to park. Cherry Creek Shopping Center General Manager Nick LeMasters said people who aren't mall shoppers are frequently parking in the available spots, and spaces are becoming harder and harder to come by.

"We've seen people who will park their car in the garage and walk across the street ... maybe it's Cherry Creek North or off to the east. We know there are certain residents parking on our site as well," LeMasters told CBS4.

A special section of the shopping center's website was created to explain more about the system. It states that the benefits will include less traffic congestion and a process for easily locating your parked car.

The first hour of parking will be free. A second hour of parking will cost $3, and rates vary beyond that. The maximum someone can be charged in a day will be $16.

While fees for parking at malls is not common in Colorado, many malls charge fees in other states.