Parking always becomes a topic of conversation before, during and after any major event in Coupeville.

For a small town that is so heavily dependent on tourism dollars, the community is continually looking at ways to market itself and bring people in.

But is Coupeville biting off more than it can chew?

This year’s Musselfest could have had some major problems had event organizers not been allowed to use the community green for parking.

Amazing weather brought in an estimated 10,000 people into town. While the green was used, visitors had to find additional parking on side streets, church parking lots and even across town at the high school.

Having too many people show up to an event is definitely a good problem to have, but it’s also something the community needs to start looking at with a serious eye.

The short-term solution for parking is already being handled by identifying smaller parking lots and the possibility of shuttling people from the other side of town.

But what about a longterm plan?

The Community Green Plan is rich with ideas, including a gradient system built into the grass that would address the town’s concern of vehicles tearing up the grass when its too wet.

The issue right now is funding.

Pretty soon the town will start seeing additional tax dollars coming into town coffers when construction on the hospital expansion starts.

Mayor Nancy Conard has said in the past that one-time revenue boosts from special construction projects are generally used for one-time expenses.

This seems like the perfect opportunity for the town council to earmark funds to finally get this plan underway.

It would definitely bring added value and security for those actively promoting our tourist-friendly town.