When drivers try to park in the City of Rock Island, they may discover that some changes have been made.
In January 2016, new parking rules went into effect in downtown Rock Island; shorter time limits were set for some on-street parking. Parking time limits throughout the city stand at 30 minutes, four hours, or unlimited, according to the city's website.
Most of the parking spots allow cars to sit for hours, but in some spots vehicles have to be out in 30 minutes. Some of those 30-minute spots are by the county buildings at 3rd Avenue and 16th Street, the County Clerk's office at 2nd Avenue and 19th Street, and Fort Armstrong Senior Residence at 3rd Avenue and 19th Street.
"We've had a few complaints about some of the thirty minute spaces, specifically in front of city hall and the county buildings so we're working with the county to maybe make some adjustments on that," said Economic Development Director Jeff Eder, "but it's an education process at this point in time and people getting used to the changes."
Eder said the city was working with parking enforcement to at first give warnings to help residents get used to the changes.
City leaders are hoping that drivers will take advantage of the free parking ramp between 16th Street and 17th Street downtown.