NEEDHAM – Wednesday, January 13, 2021 – The Needham Select Board last night agreed to keep in place free 2-hour parking at Town meters through June 30, 2021 to continue to support local businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Board also agreed to keep the traditional holiday Blue Tree on the Town Common lit through the end of February to bring light to the community during the dark winter months.
“We’re all waiting for the vaccines to become more available in Needham,” said Select Board Chairman Moe Handel. “But until the vaccine gets to every person who wants it, it’s important that Town continues to take actions that will help ensure the long-term sustainability of our shops and restaurants that call Needham home. Our aim is to make it as easy and safe as possible for people to continue to support their favorite local establishments, and we continue to encourage those who can to patronize our local businesses and restaurants.”
To ensure that the metered spaces remain available to shoppers and diners, the Town will strictly enforce the two-hour limit.
The free meter program is just one of several initiatives undertaken by the Town to support local businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Town launched “Dine Around Needham,” a progressive dinner series to encourage local dining; created outdoor dining spaces on Town properties; partnered with the Newton-Needham Regional Chamber on the Needham 100 Day Challenge and “Shop Local” banner campaign, worked with restaurants to create and expand patio spaces, reduced liquor license renewal fees, created curbside pickup spots and more.
In addition to extending the free meters, the Town will keep the Blue Tree lit past the traditional end of the holiday season.
“The Blue Tree makes people happy,” Handel said. “It’s a little thing we can do to offer the community something to smile about during the winter months ahead.”