Residents of Jacksonville, Florida, and visitors to the historic district of Fernandina Beach will experience a shift on Monday as paid parking comes into effect, marking the end of an era of complimentary parking. The introduction of this system has been a contentious topic, sparking months of debate and resistance, including a lawsuit aimed at halting its implementation, which was later dismissed.

Many locals and tourists have expressed dissatisfaction with the change, lamenting the loss of free parking. Alexa DeBoer, who was visiting Fernandina Beach, shared her mixed feelings, “We got free parking today, which was really nice,” she remarked, highlighting the convenience that will soon be a thing of the past.

On January 6, city commissioners gave the green light to the ordinance, justifying it as a necessary measure to generate funds for essential downtown projects. The revenue collected from this new parking system is earmarked for significant improvements, including enhancing sidewalks, fortifying the seawall, and upgrading infrastructure.

Despite the intended benefits, concerns remain among some community members. DeBoer voiced a common sentiment, suggesting, “Personally, I think that there needs to be better resources, maybe like a reduced fee for people who want to explore out here, but they can’t really do that because, you know, limited income nowadays is very hard.” This reflects an ongoing dialogue about balancing economic needs with accessibility for all visitors.

“Personally, I think that there needs to be better resources, maybe like a reduced fee for people who wanna explore out here, but they can’t really do that cause, you know, limited income nowadays is very hard,” DeBoer said.

The paid parking area includes spaces from Alachua Street to Ash Street and between Front and Eighth streets.

Some residents say they plan to avoid the fees altogether.

“No, I’ll just park somewhere else or we’ll Uber,” Tracie, another Fernandina Beach visitor, said.

Paid parking will be enforced from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Residents of Fernandina Beach can register on the city’s website to receive two free parking passes per household. Nonresidents can purchase an annual pass for $124. 

Without a permit, parking will cost $2 per hour, plus fees. There is a 20-minute grace period to accommodate quick stops downtown.

Drivers with a disabled placard or disabled veteran license plate can park for free without a permit.

“I don’t think that anyone should have to pay for parking. If you take the dollar amount that they are going to have to pay to park away, then all of these companies are gonna lose money because now people have to pay for parking,” Tracie said.

The paid parking measure is expected to go before voters in a referendum in August. However, a four-to-one or unanimous vote by city commissioners could override the referendum.

The parking enforcement company, One Parking, will host several additional open houses throughout the week to help people register for their parking passes in person:

• Monday, Feb. 16;  2:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, Feb. 17;  10:00 a.m. –  4:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, Feb. 18;  10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• Thursday, Feb. 19;  10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• Friday, Feb. 20;  10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

All registration events will be held at City Hall, located on Ash Street. City residents are asked to bring their license and registration with them.