Paid Parking Starts Tuesday In Certain Freehold Lots, Spots

FREEHOLD, NJ — Tuesday is the day paid parking is launching in certain borough parking lots and street spaces, beginning at 11 a.m. So it's time to remember your license plate number when you park there.

The borough reminded visitors, workers and shoppers using Market Yard, McGackin Place and Borough Hall lots and other street spaces to be aware of the new guidelines, along with operation of the smart parking kiosks in the "pay by plate" system.

And borough officials say the new parking fees will generate revenue and pay for the expenses of operating and maintaining the parking lots and related costs.

Here are some of the basics, according to the borough:

Start and costs

• Paid parking begins as of Tuesday, Sept. 5, at 11 a.m.
• Cost is $1 per hour 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; $2 per hour 5 p.m. to 3 a.m.

Parking lots

• Hourly parking at the McGackin Triangle Parking Lot.
• Hourly parking at the Borough Hall Parking Lot.
• Hourly and permit parking at the Market Yard Parking Lot.
• All other lots remain unchanged.

On-street hourly parking

• Main Street from Sheriff Street to Throckmorton Street.
• South Street from Mechanic Street to Main Street.
• Court Street from Main Street to Lafayette Place.

Payment types

• Coins or credit/debit card at all pay stations.
• By Flowbird app.
• By text.

You can get a refresher on the parking payment system in a video on the borough Facebook site, and learn about the parking app here. The borough contracted with the Flowbird Group, Moorestown, for development of the system.

Current permit parking rules remain in effect, the borough said in a notice. Display the parking permit and park in marked yellow stalls.

Mayor Kevin Kane addressed the implementation of the Parking Management System in remarks at a recent Borough Council meeting. You can read more in this past Patch article.

He said the concept has been discussed for years.

"Now we are taking action," he said at the meeting.

Sept. 5 is the launch, with no violations but warnings given out for a week to those unfamiliar with the system, he said at the meeting.

In the long term, he said, "It's a fiscally responsible financial decision and the right thing to do for our borough and our businesses," he said.

The funds raised by the parking costs will be "dedicated to repaving parking lots, continuing maintenance, line striping, way-finding signage, landscaping, litter control, snow removal, public safety and land acquisition for new parking opportunities so these costs do not have to be born by Freehold Borough residential and commercial property taxes," the borough says.

The borough has put out a brochure for residents and visitors to explain more about the new parking plan and the reasoning behind it. There is also a fact sheet available on the borough's Facebook site.

For questions, contact Parking@FreeholdBoro.org.