Officials: Come On In, The Parking is Fine (and Plentiful)

For many, finding a parking spot during the busiest times of the day in downtown Morristown can be like trying to find a needle in a parking deck.

Recently, the Morristown Parking Authority has been out in force, however, to area businesses to let them and others know there is more parking available than they realize, and it might just be right under their nose.

"The Vail Parking Facility was opened in 2008 and has a first class parking deck with 59 spaces and a surface lot (the horseshoe at the entrance) with 33 spaces, immediately off South Street and next to The Community Theatre," said George Fiore, executive director of the Morristown Parking Authority. "In part, the facility is underutilized largely because it is part of a redevelopment project and it may not be apparent that it is public."

The parking authority has recently taken steps to promote the facility, including increased lighting for public parking signs, as well as door to door distribution of flyers to area businesses. Parking fees are 50 cents per hour, which Fiore said are consistent with on-street meter parking rates. Parking is limited to three hours at Vail Mansion from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. with no overnight parking allowed. Event nights at Community Theatre, which Fiore said usually does bring the lot up to full capacity, carries a flat fee of $5 from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Unlike on-street parking, those paying for parking at Vail Mansion use a centrally-located machine.

Eventually the Vail Mansion redevelopment will also include retail, thus adding the need for use of the parking there, but Fiore said, "given market conditions [it] has remained vacant, thus reducing on-site parking demand."

"There is a lot of public parking available," said councilwoman Rebecca Feldman, the liason to the Morristown Parking Authority. "A lot of people drive right by the entrance. It's really a lovely facility to park."

In addition to the parking at Vail Mansion, Feldman said there is additional parking available some may not be aware of, including the 800-space DeHart Street garage. "Parking is available," she said. 

Fiore said there are some 3,800 public parking spaces available and said Morristown's parking availability "is recognized as one of the best downtown parking programs in the state for convenience, safety and accessibility."