Philadelphia parking restrictions now in effect for NFL Draft

Sarah Bloomquist Image
Wednesday, April 5, 2017
Parking restrictions in effect for NFL Draft
Parking restrictions are now in effect for parts of Center City Philadelphia ahead of the 2017 NFL Draft.

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- And so it begins.

The first of the parking restrictions in Center City Philadelphia in preparation for the 2017 NFL Draft are now in effect. They will continue into the month of May.

As of 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, parking along the 2400 block of Pennsylvania Avenue is restricted. This is just the beginning of the road closures and parking restrictions.

READ: Road closures, parking restrictions announced for 2017 NFL Draft in Philadelphia

Nancy McElroy, who cleans apartments in Philadelphia's Fairmount section, said she's not sure where she will put her car from now until the restriction is lifted.

"I already canceled customers that week of the draft," McElroy said.

Philadelphia parking restrictions go into effect Wednesday morning for NFL Draft. Sarah Bloomquist reports during Action News at 4 p.m. on April 4.

Many more parking restrictions and road closures take effect on Monday, April 10th and most will stay in effect into the first week of May.

The three-day festival runs from April 27th to the 29th on the Ben Franklin Parkway, Eakins Oval and the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps.

"Oh, I am sure it will just slow everything down. I am sure it will," Lori Johnson of Fairmount said.

Commuters and residents have concerns and questions about why the road restrictions start so soon and last so long.

"When the President came in, the President of United States of America, it took us one day to deal with it. When the Pope came in, the Pope, it was a week. So the fact that the NFL Draft takes a month just blows my mind," Theron Huff of Fairmount said.

READ: Festivities during NFL Draft in Philly announced

Others told us the traffic and parking will be a headache, but they're excited to welcome the NFL and the fans to town.

"I am a fan of the NFL. I think it's pretty cool that they're coming to the city and coming to the Art Museum," Christian Hudzina of Old City said.

The city estimates the NFL and its fans will bring millions into Philadelphia.

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