ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – A crackdown on parking near the St. Augustine Amphitheatre has sparked controversy.
Parking wasn't much of a problem for the Friday evening concert given by Idina Menzel -- the voice behind the "Let It Go" song from "Frozen." But in the past, it has been, with cars parked along side streets near the venue, blocking traffic.
With a main lot capacity of just 300 cars for the 4,000-seat venue, some neighbors have opened their lawns for parking. But others believe that's dangerous.
For $20 a car, Paul Smith opens his yard as parking space for people headed to the St. Augustine Amphitheatre. Since the amphitheatre was built, Smith said, people began looking for a space to park because designated parking sports fill up fast.
"Nobody wants to park at R.B. Hunt (Elementary School) and take a bus down here, get off the bus and have to take another bus back at the end of the show when they can walk across the street and get in their cars and leave," Smith said.
Recently, Smith said, he's gotten pushback from the county about people parking on his lawn. St. Johns County officials said it's not illegal, but it's also not governed by business ordinances.
Other people who live near the amphitheatre said concertgoers parking in yards doesn't concern them as much as those parking on side streets, especially in the case of an emergency.
"An emergency vehicle, such as a firetruck or an ambulance, wouldn't be able to get down to my house if there was an issue," said Halley Alexander, who lives near the amphitheatre.
The St. Augustine Amphitheatre does not promote parking on residential properties, and people can be ticketed for doing so.
There are additional parking lots with shuttles provided, such as the one at R.B. Hunt Elementary School, to take people back and forth from the venue.
For more information on the shuttles and parking for the St. Augustine Amphitheatre, click here.