OCALA, Fla. (Feb. 16, 2018) – The City of Ocala has implemented changes to its metered parking program downtown. These recommended modifications were made in response to feedback from citizens and downtown business owners and are intended to create more available on-street parking adjacent to, or in close proximity of, downtown businesses, according to City staff.
Adjustments to the parking program include:
- All parking meters are now programmed for an additional hour of parking, for a total of three-hours.
- Passport Parking has implemented three-hour parking for the pay-by-phone app.
- Android Pay and Apple Pay have been installed on all parking meters.
- An additional 11 free parking spaces have been created by removing meters on N Magnolia Avenue (between NE Second Street and NE Third Street) and on SW First Avenue, south of Fort King Street.
- Installation of 39 free on-street parking spaces along sections of NE First Avenue and N Magnolia Avenue.
The parking meters will continue to be in effect Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The meter rates will remain 50 cents per hour. The meters will accept credit cards, quarters, nickels, dimes, and can also be paid via cell phone through the free PassportParking Mobile Pay app. The meters will also accept Android Pay and Apple Pay.
According to staff, the City is also in the process of developing the former Wells Fargo Bank drive through lot, located at the corner of SW Broadway Street and SW Second Street, into a free public parking lot. In addition, downtown business owners are considering an expanded valet service. If approved, it will be located on the west side of the downtown square and could begin operations in early March.
The downtown parking lot, east of the square, will soon be permanently closed due to construction on that site. In addition to street parking downtown, citizens and visitors can also park for free in the 402-space downtown parking garage, which opened in October 2016.
For more information, please contact the City of Ocala ParkOcala Office at 352-629-8201.
