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Winter Park leaders to discuss parking issues on Park Avenue

WINTER PARK, Fla. — Many people say parking along Park Avenue in Winter Park is even more of an issue now that every commercial space on the street is occupied.

City council members will be discussing possible parking changes at a meeting on Monday.

Residents, customers and employees have battled parking problems on Park Avenuve for some time.

"Just to come down and try to find parking is not fun," Nakia Bennett said.

Toa Chattrakoon owns Avenue Thai and Sushi and said the lack of parking spots is bad for business.

"Many times the customers make the reservations and they could not come because they could not find any parking space at all," Chattrakoon said.

Winter Park is looking into a possible plan that could solve the parking problem. A hired consultant is making several recommendations to the city.

The study recommends hiring one or two more parking enforcement officers and making spots closer to the businesses for customers only.

"A lot of people who work out here park on the streets I think and there's not enough parking," resident Danyela Rojas said.

The consultant recommends that business owners and employees park in an area that would be a 10 minute walk to Park Avenue.

At Monday's meeting, council members are expected to discuss the consultant's recommendations. It could cost the city around $100,000 to implement the changes.