A lack of parking near the Gordie Howe International Bridge multi-use path is leaving some people looking for alternatives. Many are parking in a lot directly across the street. “We just decided to park here just to see whether it is possible. It looks like it’s possible for now. We don’t know about in the future,” said Leo Wong, who was visiting the region to experience the bridge with his parents. There are no signs discouraging people from parking so for many visitors, the risk is worth the reward. “It’s beautiful. Walking up there, coming down. It was amazing.” The bridge doesn’t offer parking alternatives for visitors. However, on their website they encourage people to plan ahead and in Windsor, they suggest parking at Malden Park, which is almost four kilometres away. “They’re about an hour and a half walk away,” Jessica LaBute pointed out through a phone app. “You can’t expect people to want to walk all the way from there and then also walk about 2.5 kilometres, 5 kilometres total if you go both ways.” Marija Kulas-Rosettani drove in from Harrow, parked at Malden, and then got lost with her friend on the way to the bridge. “We wasted about three and a half hours, but we had a lot of catching up done in the meantime, so definitely do your research prior to leaving to make sure you’re where you think you are and that you prepare and allow for enough time,” Kulas-Rosettani warned. Mike and Patty Ferenczy parked at Black Oak Park and walked down a winding sidewalk for 17 minutes to the entrance. “Had I known that there was this parking lot right across from the entrance I would have parked here,” Patty said. The lot is not a designated bridge parking lot, but many are using it. “If you’re not doing anything you want to hang around for a couple of hours and don’t let them tow me,” said Jim Liscomb with a laugh. The City of Windsor owns property near the Gordie Howe International Bridge. Media used it as a parking lot a few weeks ago for the ribbon cutting ceremony. It’s a six-minute walk to the bridge, but the city has put up a few ‘Use At Your Own Risk’ signs. There is street parking on the Detroit side, and a lot at Clark Park, which is a seven-to-nine-minute walk to the bridge. “I feel there’s a need that we need an official parking lot for people to be able to be encouraged to walk and bike across this wonderful bridge,” LaBute told CTV News. A couple of city councillor told CTV News they would support something being done with the property on Sandwich Street. One of the councillors feels entrepreneurs will be interested in developing parts of the area to create opportunities for visitors to park and create more interest in visiting the area by opening businesses such as an ice cream parlour or café.
