Free Holiday Parking Will Include Street Meters, Lots, Garages

From a City of Oakland press release:

In the spirit of the holidays and to stimulate shopping in Oakland’s commercial districts in support of local merchants, the City of Oaklandwill offer free parking every Saturday between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, plus "Plaid Friday," which is Nov. 23. 

On Saturday, Nov. 24; Saturday, Dec. 1; Saturday, Dec. 8; Saturday, Dec. 15; Saturday, Dec. 22 and Saturday, Dec. 29, parking at all City-metered spaces throughout Oakland will be free for the time period posted on the meter or kiosk (30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours or 5 hours). The program will also provide two hours of free parking at four city-owned garages. New for 2012, free parking has been expanded to include Friday, Nov. 23, which is known locally as Plaid Friday.

The free parking “holidays” apply to both standard meters and the multi-space parking kiosks located in many commercial districts. Standard parking rules and time limits apply  —if shoppers need additional parking time, they will need to move their car across the street if it is a two-way street, or park around the block if it is a one-way street. The City will be monitoring parked cars on a regular basis, including enforcing other violations (e.g., red, yellow, green and white zones as well as double parking).

The free holiday parking also applies to the following City-owned lots equipped with meters:

● Grand Avenue Lot in the 3200 block of Grand Avenue

● LakePark Lot under I-580 between Grand and Lakeshore avenues

● Piedmont Avenue Lot on Howe Street between 40th and 41st streets

● Parkway Lot on Wayne Avenue near Park Boulevard and E. 18thStreet.

The free holiday parking program will also offer two hours of free parking on the designated Saturdays and Plaid Friday at the following City-owned garages:

● Franklin Street Garage, 1719 Franklin Street

● Montclair Parking Garage, 6235 LaSalle Avenue

● Frank G. Mar Garage, 12th & Harrison streets

The free parking is designed to encourage shoppers to get out and explore the plethora of local shopping options – including hundreds of locally owned, indie shops throughout Oakland’s 40 neighborhood shopping districts.

For additional information, please visit oaklandnet.com.

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