(Temporarily) Free Parking in Collingswood

Malfunctioning parking kiosks have been a source of frustration to Collingswood residents and shoppers that the borough has tried to remedy for months.

Extensive efforts to get the devices working has led to local officials sending the job out for bid as well as seeking legal recourse to make up for lost revenues.

Until such time as that process can be resolved, however, the borough has made at least one big change to support a more business-friendly climate. 

Last week, Dig This owner Reed Orem described seeing frustrated, would-be patrons repeatedly worrying with the broken machines. He reasoned that merchants were losing lots of business because of it. 

“I’ve definitely seen people, they’re rolling up with their kids, they get frustrated, they pull away,” Orem told Patch. 

Orem said that although he'd seen people occasionally tape notes to the kiosks to tell visitors the devices are broken, they didn't have the same weight as an official notice from the borough.

According to one of our Patch readers, Orem got the note he was looking for last Thursday. 

In the comments of the story, reader Business Owner of Collingswood wrote:

"I wanted to point out to anyone whose read this article that on Thursday the borough placed placards at each of the kiosks letting people know they have 3 hours free parking while the bid out on updated machines. Thanks to everyone for their comments and I hope that we can all help to keep improving the town we live in."

Orem sent an e-mail of his own to Patch on Sunday confirming the same, and on Monday, another reader submitted a photo of the signs, which reads:

"Kiosk system currently down. 3 Hour Parking. No Fee. Thank you! Collingswood."

Collingswood commissioners have said they expect to receive job bids for a new kiosk vendor within months. A trial run of a second vendor's device, which is being conducted at a kiosk outside of Nunzio's Ristorante Rustico, has reportedly been working with no problems, according to borough officials.

Collingswood also provides public parking in its downtown garage at the LumberYard on Collings and Atlantic Avenues.