Pittsburgh Public Schools selling parking spots during the NFL draft

The NFL draft is happening right here in Pittsburgh exactly two weeks from Thursday. Many people may be wondering where to park if you're going to draft events, or just trying to park for work Downtown or on the North Side.

Every parking space imaginable near the draft space seems like it's cashing in. Pittsburgh Public Schools is adding to that.

The district, which will transition to asynchronous teaching and learning on April 22, 23, and 24, is trying to put what they will not be using to good use.

Spaces at King, Manchester, Conroy, and Allegheny will be available for paid parking. Pittsburgh Public Schools will be using a lot on the South Side as well, where it says people will be shuttled over to the Gateway Clipper Fleet to get to the North Side.

"We really didn't move forward on anything until we decided what we were going to do with the schools," PPS's Chief Operations Officer Mike McNamara said.  

Additionally, the district said two additional locations are under consideration. McNamara said Breshear and Greenway could be options if needed.

"If we had increased demand and these lots filled up, then we may look at expanding into some of the further away schools," he said.

Pittsburgh Public Schools said that the spaces it will be leasing will be through ParkWhiz.com. 

If you look at ParkWhiz.com, the northern lots will cost you. A KDKA search for April 23 between 11 a.m. and midnight showed King, Allegheny, and Conroy listed  around $454 for a spot. Manchester was about $350.

"If we didn't have any kind of control over them or try to monetize them, then people would just be parking there for free," McNamara said.

And as we all know, parking in a lot of places near the draft is going to be in higher demand than normal.

In PPS' case? It says the profits will be split with the valet company that is running the parking for the district. The money that the district receives will go back into the schools.