STUART — Limited parking is the common complaint of downtown patrons and business owners alike. As snowbird season revs up and the holidays near, knowing the ins-and-outs of where to park is essential.
With downtown growing, it’s become more common for visitors to walk or ride the city tram to their destinations, as premium spots on Southwest Osceola Street and Southwest Flagler Avenue fill fast. Here’s an overview of available parking around the area and how to navigate the tram and bus systems to get where you’re going.
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Southwest Osceola Street, the one-way artery bisecting the core of downtown, has 74 parking spots from Southwest St. Lucie Avenue to Haney Circle in front of Duffy’s Sports Grill, according to the city. The parallel stretch of Southwest Flagler Avenue — from Southwest St. Lucie Avenue to Confusion Corner — has 126 spots.
And there are 411 spaces on Southwest Flagler Avenue west of Southwest St. Lucie Avenue.
Lola Martin, manager at the Funky Monkey boutique on Osceola, said customers voice parking complaints almost daily during “season.” Although more parking is needed, she said, it’s unclear where there’s space to add spots.
“If we got more parking spots, where would we put them?” Martin asked. “I think we need to make better advertisements for the (tram) system.”
John and Rebeca Carver, of Jensen Beach, come to downtown Stuart about once a month and typically use the tram, they said.
“It makes a big difference,” Rebeca Carver said. “Even if you park a little far away, the (tram) will take you to your destination.”
But the three-hour parking limit — from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday — that applies to most spots downtown can be an obstacle for those who want to shop and dine for a longer period, she added.
Signs reminding drivers of the time limit can be seen among the dozens of on-street spots along Southeast Ocean Boulevard and Southeast Osceola Street east of Confusion Corner. The on-street parking stretches to Southeast High School Avenue and Southeast Balboa Avenue, respectively.
Additionally, on-street parking stretches west from Confusion Corner on Dixie Highway to the Old Roosevelt Bridge.
Parking lots
In addition to on-street parking, downtown has six free parking lots, half of them without a time limit. The others have varying restrictions about days and times. Here’s what you’ll find in those lots:
Sailfish Circle on South Dixie Highway
- 67 spots
- Open 24 hours
City Hall
- 75 spots
- Three-hour time limit, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday
Stuart Heritage Museum rear parking
- About 30 unpaved spots
- Open 24 hours
Osceola Street lot east of Haney Circle
- 21 spots
- Three-hour time limit, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday
Wells Fargo Bank on Southeast Ocean Boulevard
- 150 spots
- Open after 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; open 24 hours Saturday and Sunday
Kiwanis Park on South Colorado Avenue
- 82 spots
- Open 24 hours; overnight parking prohibited
Downtown trams
The free downtown trspanm has eight scheduled stops, and three on-call locations (772-260-0126). It operates 10 a.m. to 7 p.m Monday through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Information and maps are available on the city of Stuart tram app.
The scheduled stops, along two routes, are:
- Kiwanis Park
- Martin County Courthouse (until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday)
- Osceola Street parking lot
- Haney Circle at Colorado Avenue and Osceola Street
- Flagler Park
- City Hall
- Southwest Akron Avenue at Southwest Ocean Boulevard (until 5 p.m.)
- Sailfish Circle parking lot
On-call locations:
- Southeast Kindred Street (until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday)
- Southeast Hospital Avenue
- Sailor’s Return (after 3 p.m.)
The MARTY
Route 3 of the Martin County Public Transit, known as the MARTY, has two stops within walking distance of downtown: at Kiwanis Park and the corner of Southeast Ocean Boulevard and Southeast Hospital Avenue.
A daily bus pass costs $3, and riders can use the Token Trspannsit app to purchase tickets. A real-time schedule of bus times is available at myride.mspanrtin.fl.us; Buses operate from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Kiwanis Park
Southeast Ocean Boulevard and Southeast Hospital Avenue