Ferndale Launches Quick Zone Free Parking Option
(City of Ferndale Press Release, Nov. 25, 2013)
Beginning on Wednesday December 4, select parking spaces in the downtown district will be designated as “30 – minute free” quick zones. The purpose of the free 30 minute parking spaces is to help local store merchants whose customers need a short time (Free 30 minutes or less) to grocery shop or pick up goods or pick-up-take-out food orders, etc.
The newly marked parking spaces will be introduced as a pilot program. Launching as a pilot will allow staff to confirm that the program was set up successfully for the business community and our downtown shoppers; as well as to ensure that our approach to enforcement keeps these quick-parking spaces available for those who need it.
Pilot parking spaces will be enforced Wednesday – Friday between 4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. and Saturdays between 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Parking enforcement hours are meant to accommodate the quick parking needs of the ‘after work’ shopper during the downtown’s busiest weekday and weekend hours. Parking remains free on Sundays.
Chief Innovation Officer Joseph Gacioch stated, “The half-hour of free parking will enable anyone making a quick trip downtown to use a designated ‘Quick Zone’ parking space for free; while this may cause a small reduction in revenues, it will be far more welcoming to our downtown retail patrons and stay true to our goal of maintaining parking availability by supporting short-term parking use at convenient, off-street spaces.”
The program was designed in the spirit of buying local. Mayor Dave Coulter urges all Ferndale residents and visitors who want to come downtown for a quick shopping trip to support the city’s local economy during the upcoming holiday season.
“Ferndale is a great place to shop and an even better place to open or expand a business. The new 30-Minutes Free zones will make it easier than ever to visit our local merchants and support buying local this holiday season,” said Mayor Coulter. “I believe this new parking feature will give visitors one more reason to make downtown Ferndale their first destination for shopping, dining and enjoying the season.”
A dynamic version of this map is available online at http://www.ferndalemi.gov/Visiting/Parking_Transportation.