Sarasota parking meters are back

Free parking in downtown Sarasota officially ended today.

City of Sarasota civilian volunteers are lining the streets this morning, helping motorists figure out how to pay for their parking spaces. This morning, a volunteer helped a man pay for his space on Main Street, just east of U.S. 301.

Warnings will be issued this week before fines start to be issued in full force starting next week.

Meters were removed from State Street, the 1300 and 1500 blocks of First Street, Cocoanut Avenue, and Gulfstream Avenue. Meters are now installed on Main Street, Adams Lane, East Street, and east of U.S. 41 on Ringling Boulevard.

The city also created six free, 15-minute parking spaces on Main Street, between blocks 1300 and 1500.
Enforcement hours will be 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday, with rates of $.50 per hour from May to October, and $1 per hour from November to April.

A map of where the new parking meters are located can be found here.

For more information contact Mark Lyons, Parking Manager, at 954-7058 or at [email protected].

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].