I was planning to go to the Walnut Street Theatre to see a show, so I started figuring out how to deal with parking around 8th and Walnut.
First, I tried to get a general idea of the parking situation there. I found out that on-street metered parking costs about $2 per hour, and you can pay with coins or those SmartCards. Also, they’ve been putting in those parking kiosks around the city, which take coins and bills.
Then I started looking for actual parking lots. Found out that the ideal layout for a parking lot is rectangular with aisles and rows parallel to the long side. Apparently, this setup increases the capacity by about 20%. And the most efficient setup is to have the parking spaces at 90 degrees to the aisles for two-way traffic.
- Decided to check out the specific options around 8th and Walnut.
- Found a place called Walnut Towers Garage at 800 Walnut St.
- Also came across some other lots like 31 South 8th Street garages.
Noticed there’s a bike rack behind the building on the SE corner of 6th and Walnut, after the Athenum. Plus, there are a few bike racks around the Walnut St side of the building and Locust. If you’re into biking, just find a pole and lock up.
Started thinking about convenience, right? Looked up the closest parking garages to The Blue Note, which are at 8th & Walnut, 8th & Cherry, and 5th & Walnut.
Someone mentioned an accessible self-park and valet outdoor parking lot in the Center City neighborhood. It’s a few blocks away from the Walnut Street Theatre and Voyeur Nightclub. Seemed like a decent option if you don’t mind a bit of a walk.
Saving Money
Of course, I wanted to save some dough. Found a tip to save money on parking near 10 S. 8th St. Also saw something about reserving ParkMobile parking for 8th and Walnut at 777 W. Walnut St, Allentown, PA. I don’t know exactly but it looks like I may need to book in advance.
Personal Experience
Now, here’s where it gets personal. I live in the NE but often find myself needing to park overnight in the area of 8th and Chestnut, like 10 to 15 times a month. Usually, I park at the lot on 700 Chestnut, but man, the cost adds up.
So, after digging around and considering all these options, I decided to try out the Walnut Towers Garage. Parked there for a few hours while I went to the show. It was pretty convenient, and the price wasn’t too bad. I think I’ll use this spot again next time.
In the end, dealing with parking around 8th and Walnut wasn’t as bad as I thought. Just needed to do a bit of research beforehand, and it all worked out fine.