Join the Village of Ridgewood on Feb 3 for a community forum on downtown parking
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, here we go again, is finding a spot in the Central Business District (CBD) the toughest part of your day? Whether you’re a local business owner, a daily commuter, or a weekend shopper, the Village of Ridgewood wants to hear from you.
On Tuesday, February 3, 2026, the Village will host a vital Community Forum on Downtown Parking. This is more than just a meeting—it’s a chance to help redesign how Ridgewood moves, parks, and thrives.
Event Details: Mark Your Calendar
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When: Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at 6:30 PM
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Where: Youth Lounge at Village Hall (131 N. Maple Ave, Ridgewood, NJ)
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Who: Open to all residents, business owners, and property owners.
Why This Meeting Matters Right Now
Ridgewood has partnered with Walker Consultants, a nationally recognized firm specializing in urban mobility, to conduct a comprehensive parking study. As the Village looks toward 2026 and beyond, the goal is to modernize a system that many feel has become outdated.
What’s Under the Microscope?
The study isn’t just counting empty spots; it’s a “top-to-bottom” evaluation of the parking experience, including:
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Kiosk Technology: Assessing the current 99-kiosk system for potential upgrades or replacements.
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Rate Structures: Evaluating if current pricing matches demand.
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Permit Policies: Streamlining how residents and employees purchase and use annual or daily passes.
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Wayfinding & Signage: Making it easier for visitors to find the Hudson Street Garage and other hidden gems.
Your Perspective is the Missing Link
Data can tell us where cars are, but only you can tell us why parking is difficult. Do the 3-hour limits feel too short for a relaxed dinner on East Ridgewood Avenue? Is the ParkMobile app working for you, or is it time for new hardware?
Pro Tip: If you can’t make the meeting, keep an eye on the Village of Ridgewood website for follow-up surveys and study updates.
Quick Parking Cheat Sheet (Current Rules)
| Location | Time Limit | Rates |
| Street Parking | 3 Hours | $1.25/hr (Mon-Sat) |
| Hudson St. Garage | Variable (3-14 hrs) | $1.25/hr |
| Cottage Place Lot | All Day | $1.25/hr |
| Sundays | FREE | N/A |
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There is n o parking problem in Ridgewood. We built a brand new parking garage that has plenty of spaces. The only financial problem is the parking is free on Saturday nights to kiss the asses of the restaurant owners (the one’s that demanded the parking garage). In typical fashion, the group that demands government spending often doesn’t want to pay for it.
Can we please replace the kiosk meters with a meter at the parking spaces? New meters accommodate using your bank card as well as change
But also should accept coins still.
The”Quick Parking Cheat Sheet” doesn’t include the outrageous additional fees charged if you use the Parkmobile app. I never park on the street in downtown Ridgewood.
You can use quarters or your credit card at no additional charge.
Address the traffic. Have to wait through 2 lights to move through an intersection now.
Move from Brooklyn… to create Brooklyn
Westwood still has old school meters AND allows people to conduct business easily by giving a courtesy 10 minutes on many of the meters so you can run in to the post office or drop a package at FedEx. Also, a quarter will get you an hour there.
Glen Rock – Free to park.
Ho-Ho-Kus – Free to park.
Our family does most of our business and restauranting and shopping outside of Ridgewood, and we have lived here for many decades. It’s not just because of the fees, but the fees, plus the hassle, plus the kiosks often not working, plus someone in our household is in their 70s and does not understand the app or the kiosks and can’t walk far from the big parking building and won’t be out in zero degree weather messing with punching in their license plate to a kiosk. Even young people don’t want to do that, but that and the whole parking situation in general is very elder un-friendly.
A friend whose family has been in Ridgewood for generations said once that we should make the center of Ridgewood a permanent walking area (like a piazza in Europe – a gathering area) – so that would be Ridgewood Ave from Maple to Broad – and then use the surrounding lots (like on Dayton – those seem to be underused since the 80s) and then unused spaces on Franklin (like the old car repair) for parking.
I love how the town has been doing more stuff downtown because it really feels like connected community with the music nights and the movies and Downtown for the Holidays. I feel a walking downtown would really continue to build on that, if it is feasible (and would be way safer for pedestrians).
And with the lots surrounding the walking area, people are not walking too far to get to where they want to go. Currently if you are going to The Daily Treat, it is very unlikely you will park at the building lot on Broad street, even though the walk is not too bad. But we still go to The Daily Treat because of the parking in the back. It becomes a no-brainer.
I know many could walk but many don’t want to, and we are a 4 season area so there are many times when the inclement weather makes one want to be close to the destination.
Hope this helps.