Local Winter Parking and Traffic Policies in Full Effect

Traffic jams heading into Leavenworth on Highway 2. “Heading to school I couldn’t get into town. I had to call my sister to tell the school I would be late for school,” said Executive ASB Treasurer Adilene Casteneda. Photo credit: Adilene Casteneda.

Leavenworth, our Bavarian village at the foothills of the Cascades, has an economy driven largely by tourism and the revenue visitors bring in. With the annual, infamous Christmas lighting underway, the winter rush of tourists has arrived, bringing waves of traffic with them. 

Every year, with the influx of tourists, traffic coming to and from town becomes chaotic.

Major roads in Leavenworth, including Highway 2, Chumstick Highway, Icicle Road, and many backroads throughout town and surrounding neighborhoods, become packed, causing long wait times and frustrating levels of congestion.

This traffic affects not only tourists but locals as well, as many struggle to get to work, find parking, and navigate to and from their homes. “It’s inconvenient for sure, it makes it really hard to get out from East Leavenworth Road. You have to plan ahead for everything,” said college and career counselor Amy Rieke.

This rush is not all bad, however, as much of Leavenworth’s economy is supported by the busy holiday season. The influx of tourists also offers a unique opportunity for local schools and organizations, as designated lots are available to be used as fundraising parking lots to raise money for various groups. 

This year, new changes were put into effect to address traffic and parking concerns. The city implemented parking restrictions, traffic-controlled intersections, and access changes to certain roads. These changes were posted and stated to be put into effect to “increase public safety” by the City of Leavenworth. 

Furthermore, the city’s website states, “The City of Leavenworth, Chelan County Fire District #3, Cascade Medical, Chelan County Sheriff’s Office, and Chelan County Emergency Management have collaborated to identify and designate emergency response routes in preparation for the upcoming Village of Lights’ Christmastown festival.” 

These changes include the prohibition of left and/or right turns at large intersections. While these adjustments were made with safety and improved traffic flow in mind—and do help keep tourists moving through town—they affect locals differently. The inability to turn at certain intersections can create difficulties when navigating through town and returning home. 

“They blocked the left turn on to the Chumstick from Cedar Street, it makes it difficult to get home from town. The traffic is bad normally, but having to take detours makes it even harder,” said Milo Gibbs (10). 

Some traffic changes have proven effective, however, with one of the most notable being the closure of Ninth Street during holiday weekends. This road cuts through the main downtown strip and, on busy days, has limited visibility and severe congestion, with vehicles posing a danger to pedestrians. The closure appears to be a practical solution that addresses a major safety concern during the busy season. 

Also strongly felt during these weekends are changes in parking. New rules have been introduced that disallow the use of parking spots along main local streets, including Commercial Street, Pine Street, Evans Street, and parts of Ski Hill Drive. 

These changes have been received more positively by locals. Residents living on these streets are grateful for the added space and reduced congestion in their neighborhoods and in front of their homes. “I live on Pine Street and it’s nice to not have people blocking the whole street and my house,” said Miles Porter (12). 

One controversial addition is the removal of the opportunity for the parking lot at the Leavenworth City Pool to be used as a fundraiser for the school and its clubs. For this holiday season, the city has decided to repurpose the lot as a paid lot benefitting the city directly. 

“It was tough when we learned we couldn’t use the lot. Our revenue for ASB is roughly going to be half of the normal amount this year,” said CHS bookkeeper Hilary Osborn. 

This change has been detrimental to the high school, with ASB losing thousands of dollars in funding. “It was tough when we learned we couldn’t use the lot. Our revenue for ASB is roughly going to be half of the normal amount this year,” said CHS bookkeeper Hilary Osborn. 

For many years, the lot has been the main source of income for executive ASB. In 2024, the lot generated $15,624.80, half of which was distributed to the classes that staffed the events.

This funding supports senior trips, class events, and school dances. The other half is allocated to the school’s executive ASB, funding schoolwide events, assemblies, and more. This loss is significant and places ASB in a difficult position for upcoming years, leaving the budget roughly $8,000 short. 

Overall, the changes to traffic flow have been beneficial in terms of safety and traffic movement, though they do cause inconveniences for locals. On the other hand, the loss of the parking lot directly affects the school and its programs, raising concerns about the long-term repercussions for students and school activities.