In a continued effort to support local businesses and improve the downtown experience, the City of Oxford is upgrading its parking system. Starting this Monday, traditional single-space parking meters will be replaced by modern, user-friendly pay-by-plate parking kiosks across the Square.

The transition is designed to create a fairer, more efficient parking environment that prioritizes accessibility for customers. On busy weekends and Ole Miss game days, prime parking spaces are frequently occupied by single vehicles all day, leaving little room for those who actually need to visit the Square to dine, shop, or run errands. The new pay-by-plate system addresses this by encouraging steady parking turnover, ensuring a constant flow of available spaces right where they are needed most.

By tying parking sessions directly to a vehicle’s license plate rather than a physical space, the new kiosks create an equitable system for all visitors. This approach maximizes the utility of every single parking spot, ensuring that our downtown merchants see a consistent stream of customers throughout the day.

Just as importantly, this modernized system is a direct investment in Oxford’s future. Every dollar of parking revenue generated on the Square stays in Oxford. These funds are vital for maintaining the beauty and functionality of our downtown, paying for ongoing street maintenance, and financing future, long-term parking solutions to accommodate our city's continued growth—all without passing those costs onto taxpayers.

Preparation for the transition is already underway. The new kiosks have been installed, and city crews will begin placing updated parking signs featuring designated lot numbers tomorrow.

Visitors can easily pay at the new kiosks using a card or coin, or they can continue to use the convenient Passport Parking App to manage their parking sessions straight from their smartphones.