Mayor Ras J. Baraka announced today that the City of Newark has begun encouraging shoppers and residents to make their holiday purchases in Newark’s downtown and neighborhood retail areas, by offering free parking on its streets. The City began the offer on Monday, December 19th. They will resume enforcing parking meter collections on Tuesday, January 3, 2017.

“We are offering our residents and visitors a holiday gift of free parking on our streets, to encourage them to make purchases where they live this season,” Mayor Baraka said. “I urge them to patronize our stores and support our businesses and Newark’s prosperity.”

On those days, all parking meters on the streets of Newark will be covered in plastic bags, and no charges will be assessed for parking at meters. The city has parking meters in all five wards, but most are in the central business district.

The program of waiving parking charges comes under municipal ordinances, and is run by the Newark Parking Authority.

While charges for parking meters are being waived, fines for double-parking, and parking in prohibited zones, remain in effect, and will be enforced. Municipal ordinances banning parking at bus stops or at fire hydrants also remain in full force.

For information on all other City of Newark programs and policies, contact the Non-Emergency Call Center at (973) 733-4311.