Local businessman Eric Van Grootheest wants to use positive reinforcement to address the downtown parking dilemma here.
With parking at a premium in some parts of the downtown Fergus area, Van Grootheest intends to start randomly handing out coupons and gift certificates to people parking by the Fergus Curling Club instead of downtown.
In a recent telephone interview with the Advertiser, Van Grootheest said the move is to address parking both downtown and at the Fergus Marketplace/municipal parking lot.
He’s talked to local business owners about donations for coupons/gift certificates and then will randomly place them on cars which are parked at the curling club.
“That way we’re hoping maybe people will start parking there if there is an opportunity to get a coupon/gift certificate once a week.”
His intent was to have the initiative up and running this week.
“Maybe we can encourage some of the employees and business owners to start parking there so more customer parking is available downtown,” Van Grootheest said.
In addition, he suggested it would ease some pressure on the Fergus Marketplace parking area “which is packed all of the time.”
Primarily the initiative is being run by Van Grootheest and his staff, but it has the support of Fraberts Fresh Foods and the Goofie Newfie restaurant and “we’ll be visiting other businesses to get support.”
Depending on the results, Van Grootheest anticipated keeping the project alive for at least a year and possibly longer.
