Murphy – A study of downtown parking situation is being developed by the town’s Main Street Murphy program, but so far it dispels a myth that the town doesn’t have enough parking.
The report is still being drafted. Murphy Town Council members were given a preview in December 2025 by Laura Lachance, the outgoing downtown development director, and Sara Posey Davis, Lachance’s successor.
The study counted 368 public parking spaces and 231 private spaces spread throughout downtown, which will get around 40 more spaces when streets are resurfaced in the summer, with parallel spaces converted to angled parking.
In addition to identifying 599 parking spaces, the study showed the following on-street parking usage rates:
- Mornings: 35%.
- Afternoons: 57%.
- Evenings: 40%.
Spaces may not be right where a visitor would like,
but parking is available, Lachance said. Still, on a busy day, especially when court is in session, motorists may have to park several blocks away to find a space.
More parking
Although the statistics show plenty of available capacity, the Main Street program continues to look for ways to provide even more because parking spaces translate to money.
Lachance estimated that downtown parking facilitates about $8.8 million in downtown economic activity annually. The ideal turnover rate for an on-street parking space is four to six times per day and generates at least $40 per vehicle in purchases.
Assuming that 300 of the 599 downtown spaces are occupied in a day; that a space turns over just three times in a day; and that each vehicle’s occupant spends the $40 per visit. That translates to about $36,000 per day in estimated income potential for downtown businesses.
So, how to dispel the perception that there is no downtown parking and keep spaces turning over throughout the day?
A parking garage is sometimes mentioned as a way to add spaces, but the town’s street-level parking lot off Bill Hughes Avenue usually has spaces to spare, meaning that adding levels might be a solution – a multimillion-dollar solution – in search of a problem.
Town officials note that some downtown business owners and workers take up valuable curbside parking throughout the day. Educating them to park elsewhere to keep premium spaces open for customers could be helpful.
The town has a three-hour limit on parking, but there is no parking enforcement. Enforcing the three-hour limit could open up more spaces, but would be an added expense for the Murphy Police Department, which would have to keep track of downtown parking, ticket parking violators and follow them through the court process.
Still, enforcing the three-hour limit seems to be the lowest-hanging fruit.
“I’m not suggesting we charge for parking, just enforce it,” Lachance said.
The final report is expected to be released in the next month or two.