Not on weekends or after 5:00 unless otherwise posted for the most part. Some of that is also 2hr time limit on weekdays. Plenty of "free" parking in Anchorage if the thought of walking less than a flat mile is bearable. 

Ironically, I know this from walking everywhere on roads where every convenience seems to be given to drivers, quite often at the expense of non-drivers (in terms of safety and practicality) 

Even more ironically, when one reduces vehicle traffic in city cores, business usually shows a huge increase. People walking (or cycling) can actually see goods in store windows, shopping is more pleasant, people slow down and spend more time, and it is much easier to make unplanned stops.