Parking is a major problem for cities across the United States. A lot of the parking problems stem from the rapid growth that is being seen in many cities across the country. This has led city planners and other officials to look desperately for alternative parking solutions.

An example of this is seen when you look at Denver, Colorado. Based on reports, in 2014, the city of Denver went from being 16th to 6th on Forbes annual ranking of the fastest-growing cities in the United States. This means that if things continue at the same pace, by 2030, there will be a little shy of four million residents in Denver. This is startling, especially when you think that in 2005, Denver was barely breaking 2.5 million residents.

There are a lot of reasons why Denver is growing in popularity. And to be fair, this growth in popularity happened because of the city’s booming economy. However, when it comes to city planning and looking for parking, it is a complete and total disaster. Not only is it a challenge for the residents of Denver, but it’s also a challenge for individuals who are looking to simply visit the city. There is no parking, and there are not a lot of new ways to create sufficient parking.

City planners had to recognize that there were only a limited number of parking spaces, and there was only so much that they could do to allow enough room for the city residents to park. One of the solutions that the city of Denver is looking into is automated parking garages. Other options include meters that function on a supply and demand principle. When there is a higher level of parking available, the price for parking plummets. However, when there is only a little bit of parking available, the price per parking space rises.

While Denver needs to look at its parking problem as a city issue, there is also a lot of benefit by looking at it on a very local basis. Neighborhoods need to work with city planners in creating local initiatives that address the specific needs of the neighborhoods. Some neighborhoods in Denver, have new coffee shops, nightspots, and galleries that are attracting a lot of attention. Condos are being built in particular parts of the city, and these are also going to bring with more congestion and the need for more parking.