Parking

Parking is a very important role at Firefly because if we can’t deal with all the vehicles, there’s no way we can have an event. Parking is a big core, with over 130 volunteers (only Rangers have more).

Leading this core is a big responsibility, so there HAVE TO be multiple leads.

It's a lot of work before and after the event, but if you do it right (and are lucky) it's not much during the event so you can relax.

Parking Lead Responsibilities

• Plan Parking
  • Figure out parking areas (including special parking for box trucks, art, medical, portos, ice, dpw, etc)
  • Figure out traffic flow in coordination with landowners and other stakeholders
  • Inventory gear and replace anything broken or missing
• Set up Parking
  • Stake out lots
  • put up signage
  • put out tenex (turf protection mesh)
  • put up trash fence
  • make sure areas are mown and weed whacked
  • Stake out special parking areas
• Prevent clusterfucks
  • Make sure early arrival vehicles are parked effectively
  • Develop emergency plans (especially for rain/mud)
  • Coordinate with DPW, Arrivals, GTFO, Gate, Art, Bus, Accessibility, Medical, Ice, and other cores
  • ensure gear and procedures in place to deal with stuck and disabled vehicles
• Coordinate Volunteers
  • Determine shifts
  • Communicate with volunteers ahead of event
  • create and distribute volunteer instruction binders
  • ensure that volunteers are at shifts
  • respond to volunteer needs by radio and in person
  • fill gaps in volunteers (with gnomes)
• Clean up after Exodus
  • dismantle stakes, signs
  • remove trash fence
  • clean and organize materials
  • ensure parking stations are packed away

Who makes a good Parking Lead?

Location

Remote is fine before event, but you have to be onsite before and after (and during!) the event.

Schedule

February-May

• planning parking and coordinating with other core leads
• build volunteer schedule before tickets go on sale

May-June

• fill volunteer slots
• create volunteer binders
• inventory gear
• source new gear

Onsite:

• at least one work weekend for inventory and prep
• super secret weekend to set up (get volunteers for this too it's a ton of work)
• early arrival
• during event available by radio and often in person during the day
• ensure volunteers have information, food, water, shade etc -- everything they need to succeed
• exodus
• post event

Experience

Firefly experience is required. Ability to read maps useful. Driving experience.

Skills

• Planning
• Decisionmaking (the buck often stops here)
• Forceful collaboration with other cores
• Communication with other cores and volunteers
• Quick thinking in times of confusion -- you have to be decisive under pressure
• Good judgement / common sense
• Flexibility while maintaining boundaries
• Sense of humor / ability to not melt down

Documentation

2025 Parking Leads Task List