Where To Park Downtown

It's not that there aren't parking spaces in downtown Walnut Creek.

There are actually plenty of them.

The problem is there are lots of people who want them.

Therefore, it can be difficult to find a good parking place downtown, especially in the evening hours.

Now, I shouldn't be giving away trade secrets, but Patch is a community-oriented organization, so in that spirit I'll divulge some of the things I've learned over the years.

First, I'm a fan of the parking garages.

The parking meters are fine. The new devices they've installed that accept credit cards certainly makes things easier.

But try finding an empty on-street slot on a Friday or Saturday night downtown. There are a few if you travel far enough north on California, away from downtown. But you will need to walk a number of blocks to reach your destination.

Also, pulling out of those spaces, especially the diagonal ones, can be treacherous. It seems you never see the car that is looming behind you.

The parking garages, for me, are a better bet. But, again, trying to find an empty space in one during downtown's busy times can be challenging.

The garage next to the theaters? I avoid that one like the plague. Not only is it usually full, but the twists and turns are more suitable for an Indy 500 racer.

There's also the crazy European-like intersections where nobody is sure who has the right of way. The Caltrans engineers who designed the 680/24 interchange must have had a hand in these blueprints.

The parking garage on Locust Street near the Lesher Center isn't a bad option. There's usually a few spaces there, but it's a ways from the action. Plus, turning out of the complex onto California isn't always for the faint of heart.

There's the small parking garage above the Lark Creek restaurant. Again, usually full and some tricky maneuvers inside this facility, too.

Another small garage sits on Broadway a few blocks south of the new library. That one can fill up quickly and, once more, it's a few blocks from the center of downtown. And they have those annoying tokens, too.

The garage in the "sweet spot," I think, is the one at Main Street and Duncan. It sits above a Starbucks and the Bank of America.

There's usually at least a few parking spaces available and the interior design is basic and makes some sense.

It does have that stop sign and demanding left turn when you first enter, but after that you're home free.

I usually head straight for the top floor onto the open roof. It just seems like there's more room up there. Plus, it's a nice view, day or night.

When you walk out, you are close to pretty much everything. There are bars and restaurants across the street as well as other establishments on the next two streets over. Even the theaters aren't that far to walk.

When you leave, you do have to be careful as you make that 180 on the bottom floor. Drivers in the loading zone down there aren't always careful where they park.

Upon exiting, your choices are sometime limited, but just make a right out of the garage and then a right on Broadway. Double back if you have to, but that's the simplest way out.

There you have it. Some not-so-secret tips on downtown parking.

Now if I can just find a cheap place to eat.