Eureka's 'entrance to the city' is completed with the opening of 'Park and Ride'

The new park and ride facility, completed in May, completes the "entrance to downtown" in well-landscaped fashion. Official dedication of the parking facility is set for July 31 at 11 a.m. Photo submitted

EUREKA SPRINGS -- Years spent in planning and construction of a new Park and Ride parking facility for the Eureka Springs Transit Department have finally paid off. The grand opening ceremony for the city's new Park and Ride parking facility, complete with ribbon cutting and dedication, will take place July 31 at 11 a.m. The date was chosen because it is the 30th anniversary of the birth of the modern Eureka Springs transit system.

The lot is located at the top of Planer Hill, the unofficial "entrance to downtown," at the intersection of U.S. Hwy. 62 and Ark. Hwy. 23. It allows visitors to park and catch the trolley into historic downtown, where parking is limited due to the mountainous terrain. The cost is $1 per hour to use the new lot or a maximum of $5 for all day.

Trolley routes come within walking distance of virtually all lodging facilities in the city limits. According to Transit Director Lamont Richie, the average wait time to catch the trolley is 20 minutes unless affected by extreme weather or heavy traffic.

Trolley passes are available at the Welcome Center on U.S. Hwy. 62 West, the trolley depot on Main Street downtown, and at more than 60 lodgings and other businesses throughout town. All-day passes cost $4.50, or $8 for a two-day pass. Alternatively, tourists may buy a round-trip-to-downtown pass for $3. Trolley passes are also available from drivers with exact change.

The new facility was constructed by the Transit Department with federal transportation grants, which were required to be paired with 20 percent matching local funds. The matching funds included a $25,000 donation from Community First Bank, city funds, and $1,400 from an anonymous local donor. Construction began early in 2007 and was completed in May of this year.

"We owe a deep debt of gratitude to Lamont Richie, the transit department, the matching funds donors, and everyone involved in making this dream a reality," said Mayor Dani Joy. "Due to their efforts we've turned an eyesore into an asset."