Wellesley Ends Free Parking Meters

WELLESLEY, MA — Shoppers in Wellesley will have to pay for parking again. The town temporarily offered free parking in the Wellesley Square and Wellesley Hills business districts and along Central and Washington Streets in December to support businesses and holiday shopping in Wellesley.

The town has reinstated paid meters, starting Thursday.

Last week the Newton-Needham Chamber of Commerce wrote a letter to the Wellesley Board of Selectmen, asking to extend free parking to benefit businesses.

The letter read in part, "Our retailers and restaurants are struggling right now. We should do everything we can to make it easy for customers to shop and dine locally, rather than choosing to go to the internet, a mall, or to a neighboring community (including Newton and Needham) that continue to offer free meters."