No more free ride for people parking in downtown Bridgewater.
As of April 1 paid parking is back.
But Mayor David Mitchell says while paid parking has been reinstated on paper, it will take some time before people actually have to pay.
He says they will need time to get new infrastructure into place including having “free parking” stickers removed from meters currently in place.
Mitchell says contrary to popular belief paid parking won’t make the town any money.
“It loses some money. But, again, the idea isn’t to make money it’s to turn over parking.”
He says without incentive to leave, people including business owners, park all day in spots that could be used for customers.
Other methods of payment like a possible parking app and new kiosks on King Street are being explored and still need to make it through budget.
Mitchell says they hope to have everything in place by early summer.
