Brookline officials could eliminate free parking on Red Sox game days.
According to The Boston Globe, the town may charge $10 to park at meters near MBTA stops after 6 p.m on Red Sox game days. The changes could impact more than 100 parking spots around the St. Mary's stop and the 1,000 block of Beacon Street.
The new meter rates would be comparable to local parking garages.
The proposal hurts Red Sox fans, but helps local merchants who often cannot find parking on Red Sox game days. Beacon Street Tavern general manager Paul Walsh thinks the change will be good for his patrons, nearly half of whom drive to his restaurant .
"Our regulars will not come down here when it's a game day," Walsh told the Globe.
Brookline officials hope the change generates more revenue for the town and increases the turnover in parking spots near the St. Mary's T stop, which is roughly a half-mile from Fenway Park, according to Brookline Transportation Board member Bill Schwartz.
The changes need approval from the board, but Schwartz expects new meter rates to be in place around the St. Mary's T stop after July 1.
