News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Where to park?
They're big and hard to maneuver on congested downtown streets. When they park across several parking stalls in front of a residence or business, the owners often get a little peeved.
They also carry many of the tourists upon whom Sisters' economy depends.
Recreational vehicles are part of the summer landscape in Sisters -- but the town has nowhere to put them.
There is no designated RV parking in Sisters, according to city planner Neil Thompson.
There has been some discussion about making it illegal to park across multiple spaces, but then the city would have to at least offer some kind of alternative.
"The simplest solution would be to use the right-of-way outside the commercial area," said Thompson.
In other words, put RVs in the residential section of town. That may not appeal to homeowners, however.
Business owners cannot reserve street parking for their business (although most businesses in Sisters paid into a parking fund in lieu of providing on-site parking).
RV drivers can park anywhere they want. And most business owners would be loath to chase them away.
According to Thompson, if it is an issue that business owners and residents want resolved, they need to start the ball rolling.
"I think they should indicate to the city council that that's a priority," he said.
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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