Lakeland might become one of the latest cities in the region to start charging for downtown street parking. Right now, folks get a two-hour grace period. And while most businesses and customers seem to like that arrangement, the city says it has to start planning ahead as it tries to manage its own success and popularity. Like other cities, a solution they're now considering is taking away what has been free parking in some areas where demand for the spaces is highest. “Well, it's really nice. Especially the two hours. It's awesome. Gives you enough time to actually go in someplace and come back out,” Steve Almos said. Almos and his wife Carole were pretty happy to find one of Lakeland's coveted free-for-two-hour parking spaces when they came downtown on Thursday. However, the downtown lunchtime regulars say if they had to start paying for parking, they might just keep driving and go elsewhere. “The exception might be if they gave you leeway on the parking time,” Carole said. “If they gave you, say, an hour, even. Free parking. And then you pay? Sure, you could run in and get a cup of coffee and a sandwich and then be on your way.” “It's all about the churn. These are all shared parking spaces by all of the businesses,” Julie Townsend, the executive director of Lakeland’s Downtown Development Authority, said. MORE: https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/polkcounty/lakeland-downtown-parking-fee/67-321158d2-86eb-4b54-b391-97a00fd56cbb ►Subscribe: https://on.wtsp.com/youtube ►Website: https://www.wtsp.com/ ►Facebook: https://facebook.com/10TampaBay ►X: https://twitter.com/10TampaBay