NEWPORT FOOD SCENE: Don't let parking — or lack thereof — spoil your night out in Newport

I donated $50 to the city of Newport this week. Well, donate might be too strong a word here. It was more like I paid the city $50. More specifically, I paid the parking enforcement department. I got a parking ticket.

I should have known better. I parked on Spring Street after 6 p.m., which is clearly marked as a permit-only area (although in my defense, I didn’t see that it was clearly marked as a permit-only area where I parked.)

I was in a hurry to make a reservation and I parked after circling the block three times. When I came back to my car after dinner, I saw the paper fluttering beneath my windshield wiper. For a second, I thought it was a note commending me on the expert parallel parking job I had executed.

But no, the bright green strip at the top gave it away. It was a ticket and my otherwise delightful night out had just cost me an extra 50 bucks.

I knew as I was heading out for dinner that I was likely going to have to pay for parking. That’s life in Newport. Parking here in the summer is a classic case of supply and demand: not enough spots with a high demand of drivers looking to park.

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For some reason, the Founding Fathers forgot to include a sufficient number of parking spots when they built the city. I have seen lots that charge $20 to $30 for parking, but some charge $50 and up. That seems a bit steep, but it is what it is. Paying for parking in the summer in Newport is an inevitability, like death and taxes.

I’m not here to change that. I’m not a fan of the high-cost of parking, but it’s just a battle we’re not likely to win. The city relies on that money, as do the parking lot companies that run the private lots.

We can petition all we want for cheaper rates, discounts for island residents, free parking Fridays, but all of that means they will generate less revenue. Nobody is in the parking business to be a nice guy. They are in it to make money and the best time to do that in Newport is the summer.

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With the parking situation being what it is, we must keep in mind the businesses downtown, the restaurants and retailers, have very little to do with parking. They, too, are having to deal with the constant struggle of parking downtown. They may suggest certain parking areas to park, but for the most part, the situation (and the price) is out of their control.

They understand your concerns, but there’s really not much they can do (unless they go against the warning of recent Folk Festival sensation Joni Mitchell and pave paradise). Expensive parking is not the fault of restaurants or retailers, so don’t get mad at them. 

I understand your anger. Everything costs a little more these days. If you head out in Newport for a cozy dinner, you may have a little sticker shock when the bill comes. Then, you get hit with a parking fee, which costs more than your entrees.

But the people at the restaurant have nothing to do with how much you spent on parking. No need to take it out on them. Sure, they are grateful for your business, but restaurants don’t have a free parking pass to give to their best customers.

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Your hospitality employees work hard. They don’t need to hear about your parking woes. They’ve heard them all. They’ve lived them. They deal with it every day to make it to work on time. Parking is the cost of admission to any great dining experience in Newport. Be ready to pay it.

Of course there are other options. You can always take a Lyft or Uber. You still have to pay, but at least it gets you door-to-door service. There are public lots that are relatively cheap, especially at the Gateway Visitors Center.

If you park there, can you can take advantage of the RIPTA “Hop-On Hop-Off” shuttle and hop off near your destination. You can also flag down a pedicab to get you closer to your destination — they are always happy to give you a ride. And there’s always the joy of walking under a summer Newport sky.

In addition to the many great destinations in downtown Newport, there are also plenty of great restaurants throughout Newport and the island that have the luxury of their own parking area. They are always appreciative of your business. 

Paying a premium for parking in the summer is not something that will go away. If we want our city to be a destination place for diners and vacationers alike, we’re going to have to pay the price. Nobody is excited about that (except for the parking lot owners).

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But we can’t let it dampen the magic of a summer night in the City-by-the-Sea. If we have to put down $30 to enjoy an unforgettable night out, it’s worth it. So before you come, be ready to pay the parking, and don’t let it spoil your fun.

And if you see that someone has been hit with a ticket, maybe add a note to compliment them on their parking skills. Pay it forward.

Dan Lederer is a Middletown resident with 30 years experience in the food service industry throughout New England. He continues to work locally behind the scenes within the industry and remains a devoted fan of all things restaurant and hospitality related. His column appears on newportri.com and Thursdays in The Daily News. Cheers!