C.R. downtown isn’t user friendly

We are constantly barraged with questions from our city leaders/media wondering why downtown isn't thriving. Why? Not easy to use.

I recently decided to purchase tickets for a production at the Paramount Theatre. I thought I'd just pick them up. Oops, no parking. After circling around the block a few times to read the signs, I had to park a block and a half away. I was expected to recall my parking space number and walk to a payment center in the middle of the block. Lo and behold, when I arrived, the “smart” meter would not accept my coins (not smart, huh?). I simply needed to pay 25 cents and I refuse to take the chance of having my identity stolen for a 25-cent charge on a debit/credit card. At this point, I was so disgusted that I left and had a friend bring me back downtown so I could run in and purchase my tickets.

I do not and will not shop or dine in downtown Cedar Rapids until a simpler solution can be devised to make parking easier to use. How about a 15-minute parking space in front of the Paramount to quickly run in to buy tickets?

Heather Akintola

Cedar Rapids