Should Worshippers Get Free Parking?

By Amy Perry in News on May 5, 2010 9:00PM

Another group of Chicagoans are voicing complaints about the city’s privatized parking meters: Churchgoers. The Tribune looked into how some church members feel about the parking meters that now surround houses of worship. Many church services last longer than two hours which means worshippers have to leave during the service to feed the meter. There are some pastors who feel the city should give parking exemptions to worshippers because of what the church is contributing to the community. Rev. Philip Blackwell, pastor of First United Methodist Church at Chicago Temple explains, “We're not asking for special privileges. We just happen to be religious institutions. The strange hours that we keep are complementary to the way the rest of the Loop gets used. If we're going to co-exist in the city we have to have some nuanced understanding about how space is being used. That goes for government vehicles, bikes.”

Pastors in the Loop aren’t the only ones speaking out about the parking meters; those in the Chatham neighborhood are upset that parking meters are on the church lot perimeters but not around commercial areas. Rev. Webb Evans, with Israel Methodist Community Church, says the parking meters interfered with his religious activity: “We should have the freedom to go to church without having to pay a meter five or six feet in front of the door." Ald Freddrenna Lyle (6th), wants to exempt churches from meter enforcement on Sunday. Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) recently secured free parking until 3 p.m. on Sundays for Chicago Temple members. [Ed's note: It's worth nothing that both Lyle and Reilly voted for the new parking meter deal in 2008 without raising concerns. - M.G.]

Obviously, not all churchgoers in the city are upset about paying parking meters to worship on Sundays. Rob Holben, business administrator at Fourth Presbyterian, said it's part of living in the city and added that the meters more parking spaces.