Hot Springs Board Deregulates Over 500 Parking Spaces, Adjusts Rates

The changes come on the one-year anniversary of the downtown parking program's enforcement.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Hot Springs Board of Directors voted to significantly reduce the downtown parking management area, deregulating over 500 spaces on Convention Boulevard, Malvern Avenue, Reserve Street, and other off-street areas. The board also adjusted parking rates, with a $4-per-hour rate on Central Avenue and a $2-per-hour rate in other regulated areas. The changes come after over two hours of debate and voting at City Hall.

Why it matters

The board's actions aim to address concerns from downtown business owners and workers about the impact of the parking program on sales and access to the city's primary tourism and economic district. The changes reflect an ongoing effort to balance parking management with supporting the local economy.

The details

The board's vote eliminated the employee permit program that had discounted over 600 spaces for downtown workers. It also suspended the fee waiver for downtown residents that was set to expire at the end of the month, allowing them to instead purchase an annual $480 permit to park in unregulated areas.

  • The downtown parking program was adopted in summer 2024 and enforcement began in February 2025.
  • The board's vote on the changes took place on February 19, 2026, the one-year anniversary of the parking program's enforcement.

The players

Hot Springs Board of Directors

The governing body of the city of Hot Springs, Arkansas that voted on the changes to the downtown parking program.

Dudley Webb

District 4 Director on the Hot Springs Board of Directors who voted against the proposed amendment to the parking ordinance.

Phyllis Beard

District 2 Director on the Hot Springs Board of Directors who voted against the proposed amendment to the parking ordinance.

Steve Trusty

District 6 Director on the Hot Springs Board of Directors who motioned to put the proposed amendment on the floor, which resulted in a 340-space reduction in the managed parking area.

Alan Spraggins

Representative of the Downtown Association of Hot Springs who read a letter opposing the requirement for downtown employees to pay for parking.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We keep coming back with a patch, a patch, a patch. I keep getting complaints with the kiosk, the parking app.”

— Karen Garcia, District 5 Director (hotsr.com)

“We remain firmly opposed to requiring downtown employees to pay for parking as a condition of working in our city's primary tourism and economic district. Since the initiation of the paid parking system in February of last year, most downtown business owners have reported a decline in sales, with some experiencing up to 40% compared to prior years.”

— Alan Spraggins, Representative of the Downtown Association of Hot Springs (hotsr.com)

What’s next

The board's actions aim to address ongoing concerns from downtown businesses and workers about the impact of the parking program. However, the board may need to further evaluate the program and seek broader stakeholder input to develop a more sustainable long-term solution.

The takeaway

The Hot Springs Board of Directors' decision to significantly reduce the downtown parking management area and adjust rates reflects an effort to balance parking policies with supporting the local economy. This highlights the challenges cities face in implementing parking programs that meet the needs of businesses, workers, and residents.