Complaints about parking at the South Okanagan Events Centre have been commonplace online since Cascades Casino opened last year, so one local woman started a petition to try and encourage the city to address the issue.

"I started it mostly out of frustration," said Sharlene Franklin, the petition's creator. 

Franklin frequents the parking lot for events and has kids in various sports programs at the arena. She recently billeted hockey players during Vees playoff games. That was the straw that broke her back.

"I heard lots of frustration from travelling parents that either wouldn't leave their spot even momentarily to get a coffee because they were afraid they wouldn't be able to get a spot again, or just how far they had to walk to access the arena," Franklin said. 

She also said she saw vehicles with handicapped signs getting ticketed for parking in no-parking zones in front of the doors, because all other handicapped spots were full.

Franklin's petition has over 300 signatures, and calls specifically for a parkade. She said it's wrong that newer developments, like the Cascades Casino, came in without expanding the parking.

However, not everyone agrees with her that more parking is a good thing.

"We don't really feel it's a solution to the issue," said Matt Hopkins, board member on the Penticton and Area Cycling Association.

"We'd like to see cycling to be an option. Figure out a way that everyone doesn't need to come down there with cars, so, can we make public transit better, have more service at peak times?"

The city is discussing plans for more parking, but couldn't give specifics at this time.