Jake’s 58 Hotel and Casino is attracting large crowds since its opening. This place is a hit among people of New York and parking is a big issue here and especially over the weekend it is chaos. After opening on February 27th, Jake’s 58 Hotel and Casino of Islandia, New York have seen a great deal of traffic. The casino’s opening was highly anticipated by patrons and after a quiet soft opening just a few days ago, it seems parking has become an issue. It was reported on Friday by officials of Islandia that parking meters will be installed on the roads near the venue after some patrons were unable to find a parking space in lots of the facility, eventually parking on side streets.
John Zaher, a spokesman for Islandia stated in a report at Newsday.com that officials are reviewing options to put as many as 200 parking meters on North Bedford Avenue and Raymond Drive. This would be done due to the fact that several customers parked along these roadways after the venue opened for business last week.
Patrons who visited the casino were questioned about parking and said they took to the side streets after not being able to find spaces in the parking lot of Jake’s, which has 643 parking spaces. Some patrons commented that there were reserved parking areas that they were unable to park in.
With the February opening, the betting parlour, which offers only video lottery terminals, had only 265 VLTs in operation. The venue operates under licensing obtained by Suffolk County Regional Off-Track Betting Corp., and is financed and managed by Delaware North Companies. Officials have plans to add 735 more VLTs by summer, so parking may soon become an even bigger issue.
Speaking to Newsday.com in an email, Zaher as well as Glen A. White, spokesman for casino operator Delaware North, there is enough parking for customers of the casino. Hotel and casino parking is free but there is also valet which has a cost of $7. Cars with handicap license plates will have the fee waived. Zaher said that is ample parking at the hotel but some do not want to use valet parking.
Zaher has said that the No Parking signs along the side streets have been covered up and will remain covered until the meters have been installed. It is unclear as to how much the metered parking will cost as well as when the meters will be installed.
