Shoppers who come upon a bagged meter in downtown Oak Park or in the vicinity of South Oak Park Avenue are in luck. They can park free for two hours.
The new program, which begins after Thanksgiving, will let anyone park free for two hours at a meter or in a pay-by-space lot on Saturdays before Dec. 25. Parking always is free on Sunday.
The program is intended as a thank you for residents and visitors who shop locally. Retail sales benefit not only local retailers, but the entire Village since 2 percent of every retail sale comes back to municipal coffers to fund vital public services.
For many retailers, the holiday season is the most important time of the year. In approving the new program, the Village Board said they hope this small gesture will increase sales as well as create goodwill among the businesses and their customers.
The new free Saturday parking program will become a fixture every year after Thanksgiving through the Saturday before Dec. 25. The Village Board had previously approved free garage parking for the same period.
This latest change to local law that created the free weekend parking also made parking free in garages and in these shopping areas on July 4.
For more information on parking in the Village, email parking@oak-park.us. Information also is posted at www.oak-park.us — just search parking.