Selectmen Approve Free Parking in Dedham Through Jan. 5

The Dedham Board of Selectmen on Thursday bestowed a holiday gift for shoppers in town: free parking at metered spots through Sunday, Jan. 5.

The selectmen approved the free parking at Thursday night's regularly scheduled meeting, Town Administrator Bill Keegan told Dedham Patch on Friday.

After Jan. 5, meters will resume the normal rates of being free for the first 15 minutes with 75 cents per hour after that.   

The pay rates, however, do not include the spots located within the large parking lot at Dedham Square, which is free of charge at all times. Town officials had originally opted to charge for the spots as part of the Dedham Square Improvement Project, however pulled back on the move after analyzing the result of adding paid spots.

"We were finding there was real concern for [area] employees finding places to park," Keegan said, adding that officials are still evaluating the parking situation downtown. 

Winter Parking Regulations Still in Effect

While metered spots will remain free for the next couple of weeks, residents should note that winter parking regulations are in effect and will remain so through April 1, 2014.

As part of the regulations, all residents with driveways are expected to use them and remove their cars from the street, according to the Dedham town website. Except where otherwise posted, residents without driveways must park on the even side of the street during even-numbered months, and on the odd side of the street during odd-numbered months. No parking is allowed on the sidewalks.

Adding to that, no on-street nighttime parking will be allowed on the following neighborhoods in town:

• East Street (High Street to Rte. 128)
• Common Street
• East Dedham Square
• Milton Street
• Court Street
• Oakdale Square
• High Street
• Dedham Square
• Bussey Street
• Ames Street
• Sprague Street
• Whiting Avenue
• Cedar Street (Oakdale Square to Endicott)
• Bridge Street
• Walnut Street
• Washington Street (Rte. 1 to Court Street)