Weekend visitors to downtown Port Orchard’s waterfront will soon pay a premium to park in spaces near the farmers market after the Port of Bremerton Board of Commissioners approved a new event parking rate.

The board voted April 22 to revise the Port Orchard Marina tariff schedule to include an event parking rate of $5 to $10 per hour, to be implemented starting June 1. While the port has the option to charge up to $10 per hour for major events, director of marine facilities James Weaver said it is unlikely most events would require a rate above $5.

The new rate will apply to 32 port-owned parking spaces near Harrison Avenue and Bay Street that are currently available at $1 per hour for weekday commuters who use the Kitsap Transit foot ferry.

Weaver said the move helps the port better manage parking pressures during busy Saturdays, when the Port Orchard Farmers Market draws hundreds of visitors downtown between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.

“Many resources require these parking spaces. They say only failing downtowns don’t have a parking problem. Successful downtowns have a parking problem,” Weaver told commissioners.

Weaver said offering a premium parking option adjacent to the farmers market allows the port to maximize the use of its limited parking resources while encouraging turnover.

The first event scheduled to utilize the new parking rate will be the Port Orchard Farmers Market, which runs from mid-April through October. In the future, other special events, such as fan celebrations during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, could also trigger the event rate, Weaver said.

The new event parking rate accompanies changes made earlier this year by the city of Port Orchard, which updated its municipal code on April 8 to authorize Saturday parking enforcement in the downtown area. New two- and four-hour time limits are being installed along Bay Street, Prospect Avenue, Sidney Avenue, and surrounding city-owned lots.

The port’s current $1 hourly commuter rate during weekdays was inherited when the city transferred management of the marina parking lots to the port in 2023 under a new interlocal agreement. That agreement also tasked the city with enforcement duties, including through the use of an online payment system and educational outreach efforts.

Weaver said the port is also considering restoring 16 spaces near the marina for loading and unloading purposes to assist boaters and tenants.

Looking ahead, Weaver said city officials have discussed the potential for a parking garage to alleviate downtown’s growing demand for spaces as the community continues to attract residents and visitors.

“This event rate is a tool, not a complete solution, but I think it will provide some relief for marina tenants and possibly some additional business revenue to offset the costs of maintaining these parking lots,” Weaver said.