Free weekday parking in downtown Marquette

The Marquette Downtown Development Authority and the Marquette Police Department are teaming up again this year to make it easier to shop downtown during the holidays.

Parking in the city’s downtown is now free of charge on weekdays after 3:00 p.m. All 1,100 unrestricted public parking spaces in the downtown area are included. Those are both metered spaces and the unmetered spaces that have a two–hour limit.

“It would go from Rock Street to Ridge Street, from Lakeshore (Boulevard) to Seventh Street, and also North Third Street,” Marquette Downtown Development Authority executive director Mona Lang said.

North Third Street has just been added to the program this year. However, the free parking has some restrictions. The city’s winter parking ban will still be in effect.

“The winter parking ban is between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. every single day,” Marquette Police Lt. Mike Laurila said. “Handicap parking, reserved parking and loading zones, those you would not be able to park in.”

The free parking hours began this afternoon, and they continue until New Year’s Eve.