KITCHENER — It's as familiar a sight to regular market-goers as the bright piles of fresh produce: lines of traffic snaking around the block, on the hunt for a parking spot.

Access to nearby, cheap parking is a perennial problem at the Kitchener Market. The market's most recent survey found almost two-thirds of customers aren't happy with parking.

Just broaching the subject of parking at the market is likely to elicit a frustrated head shake or serious eye rolling.

Regular market-goer Stan Beretta struggled to find a way to describe the parking situation. "How do I express it with words you could print in a family newspaper? It's not ideal, I've got to say."

On average, about 11,000 people flock to the market each Saturday. Not all of them drive there, but demand for parking is a continuous problem. The city runs a parking garage right at the market, where people can park for free during the Saturday market. But about one-quarter of the 195 spots in the garage are taken up by vendors or their staff.

Things have worsened in recent months, because a number of nearby surface lots that had free parking have been fenced off as developers ready those sites for new construction of condos and apartments. And the nearby Market Square garage recently began charging for Saturday parking.

"It's brutal," said Cathy Morris. "It's one reason I hardly come here anymore."

She likes to pop in to the market on her way to work on Saturday morning, and knows a spot where she can usually find parking. But if she drives by and it's occupied, she skips the market altogether.

"I have arthritis. Walking a distance carrying heavy stuff is not fun."

Market staff are trying a couple of ways to ease parking woes. Beginning June 1, vendors and their employees won't be allowed to park in the market garage. City staff are working on a deal with the garage at Market Square, so that vendors can park there for a flat rate, likely about $6.

That should free up about 50 spots that vendors occupy for six hours or more, said Kim Feere, the market's manager.

"You'd see five times the turnover if customers could have those. That's the equivalent of 250 spaces."

The market will also be launching a publicity campaign to encourage people to park three blocks away, at the city's parking garage at Charles and Benton streets. Shoppers will be able to park there during market hours for just $2, while vendors will pay $3.

"It's a problem that doesn't go away," Feere said.

She hopes the arrival of the LRT will ease some demand for parking, but the system's launch has now been pushed back until December, and something needs to be done sooner.

"We need to be proactive in putting something together rather quickly in order to alleviate the situation."

"(Parking) is our most common complaint," said Glen Ackroyd of Ackroyd's Honey.

Cheaper parking at Charles and Benton will only partly address the problem, since many shoppers and vendors won't walk that far.

At the end of the market day, vendors have to lug all their supplies and any unsold goods to their vehicles. Hauling goods by trolley over curbs and up garage elevators, is a hassle, he said.

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Irene Gross likes the idea of cut-rate parking at Charles and Benton, but thinks the city should negotiate a similar deal at Market Square for customers, not just vendors.

Paying $2 to park three blocks away might seem reasonable in Toronto, Beretta said, but in Kitchener, "it's going to be a hard-sell. People are used to free Saturday parking. I can go to Costco or Sobeys and I don't have to pay."

Parking is "impossible" if you don't get to the market early, says Martina Sallewsky.

She says the city should provide a shuttle to nearby garages if it wants people to use them.

"We live in a time where convenience is everything and time is everything."

Several market-goers had other ideas about how to fix the problem. Cam Gillespie also thinks the city should offer free parking.

"If you want to sustain your local economy and your local vendors, why are you making me pay two bucks?"

Vendor Pat Ricci agrees. In Hamilton, where he lives, customers get an hour of free parking if a vendor stamps their parking stubs.

"People love it."

He also believes the city should stop issuing parking tickets on nearby streets during market hours.

"There's no perfect solution, but there's better solutions," Ackroyd said.

The proposed parking changes and rates are expected to take effect at the beginning of June, Feere said.