Time expired fast in the process to give away downtown Fort Smith parking meters

The city of Fort Smith had planned a 25-day period for people to reserve through an online form a parking meter that once stood in downtown Fort Smith. It only took about 90 minutes for almost 400 meters to be reserved.

The Fort Smith Board of Directors voted Aug. 5 to remove almost 400 parking meters from downtown Fort Smith. The action followed an almost two-year process to determine if the meters were necessary.

The board initially waived downtown parking meter fees between Nov. 24, 2023, and March 31, 2024, to study parking trends and habits. A report from the Fort Smith Police Department about the study period indicated that “parking meters may be removed with little to no impact to our businesses.” As of early 2024, the city had 315 total meters and 285 active meters.

Nov. 3 was the date set for people to begin reserving a meter, with the deadline set for Nov. 28. But soon after the announcement was made on Nov. 3, the city posted a social media message saying all meters had been reserved.

“The response was much bigger than I anticipated,” Josh Buchfink, public relations manager with the city, said when asked about the process. “All the known available meters were claimed within about an hour and a half. It really showed how much local pride people have and how connected they feel to the history of downtown Fort Smith. We are currently double-checking our meter count to ensure accuracy before confirming the final numbers and notifying everyone who reserved one.”

According to Buchfink, 397 meters were reserved, which include 315 meters removed from the downtown area, replacement meters, and some replacement meters not fully assembled.

When it was decided to remove the meters, residents asked about obtaining them, which formed the idea to give them away, according to the city.

“The idea to give away the parking meters came from Acting City Administrator Jeff Dingman,” Buchfink said. “After they were removed from the downtown area, several residents reached out to inquire about purchasing one. Jeff suggested that instead of selling them, we give them away as a small gesture of appreciation to the community. These meters are a piece of Fort Smith’s history, and this was a simple way to return that history to the people it belongs to.”

One of the meters was set aside for the Fort Smith Museum of History (FSMH).

“The parking meters tell a story about the last 80 years of Fort Smith’s history — they’re not merely interesting objects or relics of the past, but rather direct representations of the city’s growth, technological advances, economic development, and debates and civic discourse among the citizens of Fort Smith,” Museum Executive Director Caroline Speir said in a statement. “The parking meter — an object — becomes a piece of the story and a part of Fort Smith’s history. The FSMH is delighted to acquire a piece of Fort Smith’s past that will preserve its history for the future.”

According to information from the Fort Smith Police Chief Danny Baker, meters were first installed in downtown Fort Smith in the 1940s, with additional meters installed in the 1950s.

“Metered parking in downtown Fort Smith has been a topic of debate with motorists and business owners for almost a century,” Baker said. “As is the case with most regulatory measures, the police department has been in the middle of the debate since the beginning. I see it as an honor for the FSPD to help bring a long-standing era to a close by facilitating the distribution of these iconic machines to citizens who appreciate their significance in our history.”

Those who reserved a meter have been instructed to pick them up from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 1 at the Harry E. Kelley Riverfront Park, according to the city.