Going to Chautaqua Park in Boulder this summer? Prepare to pay for parking

In an attempt to ease the parking crunch at one of the most popular local attractions, the City of Boulder is trying a pilot program where visitors at Chautauqua Park -- located along Baseline Road -- or in the nearby neighborhoods, will be charged $2.50 per hr to park. 

 

"I could go up and do a route that took six hours and end up spending quite a bit of money," climber Bret Ruckman said.

 

"Before I might not be able to get a spot but now I probably won't even try to get a parking spot," runner Ian Mallams added.

 

But across Baseline Road in one of the adjacent neighborhoods, homeowners like Charlotte Shifrin are looking forward to the changes. 

"A little less congestion would be great. A parking spot would be wonderful," she said. 

Homeowners get a permit to park. The public has to pay. 

The second part of this pilot program involves a free shuttle to take visitors from free lots in Boulder into the park. There will be three shuttles, running every 15 minutes.

Pickup spots are: 

• New Vista High School
• CU Boulder's Regent Lot
• Any downtown parking garage

"We hope it will be a really good way for folks to get up there without worrying about parking and all of that," Lisa Smith, a spokeswoman for the City of Boulder told Denver7.

Dogs and climbing gear are allowed inside the shuttles. The shuttles run from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

For a map of parking, head to over the City of Boulder website.