No more parking fees at Westerner Park and a look forward to 2021

Parking fees will no longer be charged for events happening at Westerner Park.

Instead, a small facility fee on each ticket will be implemented. The new fee structure will lower the overall cost to guests while helping keep Westerner Park financially sustainable.

Previously a $7.00 to $10.00 parking fee was charged per vehicle entering Westerner Park during major events. Also, there was a $1 facility fee on each event ticket. Moving forward, guests can now expect to see a $1.00 to $2.00 facility fee included on their event tickets.

Parking has been a contentious issue for those attending events at Westerner Park, when asked if this was part of the decision to change the parking fee structure, Mike Olesen, Chief Executive Officer said,

"Part of it was taken with feeback from the Red Deer Rebels. Attendance was suffering and parking was one of the examples as to why. Taking away the (parking) fees was a great way to simplify cost for those attending events."

As a not-for-profit organization, Westerner Park invests all their earnings back into the improvements of their buildings, grounds and amenities.  When asked how the money will be made up with no parking fees,  Oleson says 

“We are continually looking for opportunities to enhance the value for our guests and to ensure that our community has a place to come together and celebrate,”  “The changes to our parking strategy is a benefit to our community and we feel it is one example of how we are increasing our value to our guests.” The new fee structure will lower the cost to guests while keeping Westerner Park financially healthy by lowering its operating expense.”

Looking ahead to events for 2021 at Westerner Park COVID-19 will still play a big part in what will, or will not, happen this Spring and Summer.

"The Spring period is a challenging one. Planning is not a matter of days and weeks, it takes months, and a lot of our event clients are in the same boat as we are for self-produced events. It's really difficult to keep yourself committed even a few months before the event with uncertainty."

Oleson does see things opening up later in the Summer and Fall of 2021.

" We continue to scenario plan. Westerner Days is a good example of a major event that is on our radar.  Our goal is to make it a great experience, and in all probability an event that has a focus on outdoor programming. We look forward to the vaccine program taking effect, and having CFR (Canadian Finals Rodeo) going full on in November."

Westerner Park has approximately 4,000 paved parking spaces in six main lots and 52 handicapped stalls; which can be increased if a particular event requires.