No parking on Washington Blvd? (COSI area)

For the past few years (basically 2022-2024) when I would occasionally go to COSI, I'd park on Washington Blvd between COSI and the river because it was free. I was far from the only one.

I guess I got lucky the last time... according to my source, it became a tow/ticket zone, despite the fact there's a lack of signage regarding "No Parking/Stopping."

I can understand the gate as a security measure before/during/after festivals, but:

1) When did the tow/ticket thing start happening?

2) What's the logic behind making this a tow/ticket zone? Just because you gotta pay everywhere else?

As much as I don't mind paying for things, I also don't mind saving some money.

Thanks in advance!