Ridgewood Offering Free Parking During Holiday Season

The council is catching some holiday cheer, taking up the Ridgewood business community's pitch to have free parking on the streets and lots during the year's most critical shopping period.

According to the plan – expected to pass unanimously in November – the village will be offering free parking on the five Saturdays between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Both the lots and street meters will be free, though the village won't exactly be shouting it from the rafters.

Citing an interest in capturing revenue from those unaware of the free parking, the village won't be covering the meters with bags. The financial losses to the village's coffers could be worth five figures.

But the discussion did lead to one larger question on Wednesday night.

"If you're saying meters stand in the way of business even in the busiest season, why use them at all?" Deputy Mayor Albert Pucciarelli asked.

So, residents, what do you think of the holiday parking gift? Good idea? Bad idea? Are parking meters even necessary?

Add your thoughts in the comments below.

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