Downtown Evanston Parking Garages Free Through Sunday Due to Heavy Snow

City officials have opened the three downtown Evanston garages for free parking through Sunday, Jan. 5, due to the heavy snowfall.

Some 1.5 inches of snow fell overnight, and an additional 3 to 4 inches was predicted for the rest of the day, according to assistant public works director James Maiworm. That's on top of the roughly 10 inches Evanston saw before Thursday evening, according to Maiworm. 

Anyone parking at the 1800 Maple Self Park (1800 Maple Ave.), Church Street Self Park (525 Church St.) and Sherman Plaza Self Park (821 Davis St.) garages will not be charged until after 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, according to a press release. 

Residents are being asked to keep cars off certain streets after the city issued a daytime snow emergency for Thursday, Jan. 2, through Friday, Jan. 3, which affects streets with parking on both sides that are not posted as "Snow Routes." Parking is not allowed on even-numbered sides of the street on Thursday, and is prohibited on odd-numbered sides of the street on Friday.

"With the amount of snow that has fallen and the forecast for more it will be important for people to move their cars to the even side of the street tomorrow so plows can clear to the curb line," Maiworm said in an e-mail.

A snow route parking ban will also go into effect at 11 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 2, lasting until 6 a.m. Friday, Jan. 3. During that time, cars may not park on streets with "Snow Route" signs so that plows can clear the snow. (View a map of those streets here.)

The heavy snow also means that special pick-up collections will be suspended until Monday, Jan. 6, and recycling collections will be delayed, according to the city. Wednesday's recycling should go out Thursday, and Thursday's recycling should go out on Friday. Regular collection is expected to resume on Monday, Jan. 6.

Outdoor ice rinks are closed due to the heavy snow and will be cleared once plows have finished emergency work, according to the city.