Beginning July 1, the City of Greensboro will make changes to its downtown parking decks starting with the addition of the Pay-in-Lane Device at the Bellemeade Street Parking Deck.
 
The Pay-in-Lane Device allows hourly customers to use cash or credit/debit cards to exit without going through the parking attendant booth. If a customer's parking ticket is validated by a downtown merchant, it will still need to be given to the parking attendant at the exit gate.
 
Also, beginning August 1, a Ticket Retrieval System will be implemented at all downtown parking decks. Currently, downtown decks raise the gates in the evening and on the weekends, so customers can enter free of charge. This method doesn't allow the City's Parking Operations to keep an accurate count of customer usage after hours.
 
With the new Ticket Retrieval System, customers can still enter for free but they will have to take a ticket from the ticket dispenser before the gate raises, allowing them to enter. When customers exit, they will need to deposit the ticket into the Ticket Retrieval System at the main exit. If the ticket is lost, it will require a $1 deposit into the Ticket Retrieval System to exit.
 
For more information, visit Parking Operations' Web site or call 336-373-4368.

 

Government Works: A City Academy is now accepting applications for its 2009 class. The program is comprised of a series of classes designed to teach participants about all aspects of City government.

City Academy is free and open to any resident who lives within the corporate limits of the city of Greensboro. Twenty-five people representing all council districts and various backgrounds will be selected for the academy. Other selection criteria include:

Preference will be given to those willing to serve on a board or commission.

To apply for City Academy, fill out this application by July 17. For more information, contact the City's Community Relations Department at 336-373-2723.

Downtown Greensboro will be enhanced this summer with a public art project that honors traditions and celebrates creativity. The Cemala Foundation in conjunction with the United Arts Council is partnering to bring art to the Greene Street Parking Deck with a project called "Moving Forward."
 
"Moving Forward," designed by artist Ron Fondaw of Burnsville, NC, focuses on transportation through the centuries. Each of the three visible corners of the garage will have five stylized wheels, in a vertical fixture, that light up at night. The low pedestrian wall along Greene Street will feature a timeline made of hand-made ceramic tiles that will showcase vehicles that represent different time periods, including a steam locomotive, street trolley, tractor trailer, cars of the 20th century and planes to represent HondaJet.
 
Installation began on June 18 and will be complete in August. For the next three to four weeks, each Monday after 7 pm, installation work will be underway at the entrances and/or exits to the parking deck. Please be aware of this if you need to enter or exit the deck during this time.