Spokane, Wash. – River Park Square parking garage operators released today figures for the month of April, reflecting a continued upward momentum in business revenues and car parks.  The downtown retail center also announced special Bloomsday parking rates and shopping discounts.

To celebrate Bloomsday festivities, the River Park Square retail center is offering free parking all day Sunday to race participants who park in the parking garage by 7:00 a.m.   Bloomsday runners will also receive $1 off parking rates in the River Park Square garage throughout the weekend who show their passport. 

Those taking advantage of the free and discounted parking must show their River Park Square ‘passport’.  The ‘passport’ will be available free of charge at the River Park Square Bloomsday trade-show booth, during race check-in.  In addition to the parking discounts, the ‘passport’ will also provide sales reductions to many of the River Park Square shops and restaurants, including several retailers, restaurants, and the AMC Theatres. 

Regular parking rates are .75 per ½ hour up to $8.00 maximum during the weekdays,  $2.00 maximum after 5 p.m. Monday – Saturday, and all day Sunday.

“The passport provides Bloomsday competitors and visitors from throughout the region a convenient location to park for the race and also take advantage of the shopping, dining, and entertainment opportunities in River Park Square,” said Marcy Latta, Marketing Director, River Park Square. 

For the eighth consecutive month, monthly gross revenues and garage utilization showed a notable increase over the same period in the year prior.  Nearly 63,000 cars parked in the parking garage last month, generating gross revenues in excess of $152,000.  Compared with April 2000, gross revenues rose by 18.4 percent and car counts rose by 14.3 percent.  First quarter garage performance ended at 27 percent ahead in utilization and 36 percent in gross revenues over first quarter 2000.

“The steady increase in the garage is because of the new downtown activity,” said Bob Robideaux, project director for River Park Square.  “The shared vision of River Park Square to revitalize downtown is really happening.  As more and more people take advantage of what the retail center and downtown has to offer, our City will continue to reap the positive benefits that come from a downtown full of new activity, business and energy.” 

River Park Square and surrounding downtown businesses serve a regional market of more than 1.7 million people.  The new retail center has generated more than $5.4 million in tax and fee revenues for the City of Spokane and services located in the City, has created and retained more than 1100 jobs, and has served as a catalyst for downtown revitalization.  Since River Park Square opened, more than $340 million in new downtown construction projects have been announced or moved forward.