The City of Lawrence started its Downtown Ambassador Program to get parking staff back to work during the pandemic. Since its return in July 2023, the program has aimed to keep the cultural hub of Lawrence clean, beautified and welcoming.
This year alone, parking staff and volunteers have removed more than 1,000 graffiti tags, collected more than 15,000 gallons of trash, maintained more than 200 pieces of city infrastructure and helped more than 200 visitors around the downtown area.
“We have a huge vested interest in the success of our downtown,” says Brad Harrell, parking manager and coordinator of the ambassador program. “This is an opportunity for us to bring a more positive light on what Parking Services is to our community.”
Currently, one parking enforcement staff member joins in the ambassador program Tuesday through Friday as a normal eight-hour shift. They help spruce up alleyways, do some powerwashing and light street maintenance. Then, on Ambassador Days throughout the year, all parking staff members — including managers and supervisors — come out in the field, so everyone gets involved. It allows them to tackle larger projects that require more than one person.
For Lance McCurdy, parking field supervisor, interacting with residents is one of his favorite parts of the program.
“People were stopping us all day, saying thank you or asking what we were working on,” McCurdy says. “It was a great reminder of how much people notice and appreciate the effort. Our response to them was simple: ‘We’re more than just parking; we’re here to help. We’re working together for a better tomorrow.’”
Beyond the Downtown Ambassador Program, the parking department has launched other new initiatives to better serve the Lawrence community.
The department’s Parking Amnesty Program throughout the month of September allowed for a 50% discount on unpaid parking tickets from the downtown area. Half of those funds were then distributed as donations to 10 local nonprofits.
Parking staff also coordinated a makeover of the New Hampshire Street parking garage this summer. Since late August, the facility has been sporting new lights, signage, and handpainted city colors to mark each level.
“It really brings to light our message, which is that we’re more than parking,” Harrell says. “We’re hopeful for the success of our downtown, and if there’s anything we can do to help, we’re all ears and ready to hit the ground running and help.”
Residents can email parking@lawrenceks.org to let parking staff know about anything that needs to be cleaned or fixed up downtown. Harrell also encourages people who are looking for volunteer opportunities to get involved.
“As we look ahead to 2025, we’re excited to continue building on this community connection,” McCurdy says. “We’re planning to make Ambassador Day an annual tradition. We’ll also incorporate smaller, more frequent events that bring us even closer to the people we serve. Discovering new ways to make a positive impact in Lawrence will be a big focus moving forward.”
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Jordan Winter (she/her), a contributor to The Lawrence Times since August 2021, is a 2019 KU grad with degrees in journalism and political science.
Check out her work at jrdnwntr.com. See more of her work for the Times here.
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