Garden In The Woods Seeks Exemption To Framingham’s Odd-Even Parking Rule

By Grace Mayer

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FRAMINGHAM – Garden in the Woods is seeking an exemption from the City of Framingham’s odd-even parking restrictions. The City of Framingham only allows parking on the odd-numbered side of the street during odd numbered years like 2021.

Residents have been unhappy that patrons of Garden in the Woods are parking along the neighboring Hemenway Road. The issue was discussed at the Framingham Traffic Commission meeting, held virtually, last night, May 25.

Traffic Commissions Chair Bill Sedewitz said historically residents have parked along the southbound side of Hemenway Road.

Garden in the Woods is a 45-acre botanical garden in the Nobscot section of Framingham, located at 180 Hemenway Road.

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Debbi Edelstein, Executive Director of Native Plant Trust which is headquartered at Garden in the Woods, asked for an exemption to this “odd even rule” in order for patrons to be able to return to parking along the even side of Hemenway as was done in the past.

Only recently has enforcement requested vehicles no longer be parked on this side of the road.

Edelstein said only overflow parking spills onto the Hemenway Road street once the garden’s parking lot is full. 

“It’s the widest part of the road and there are basically no houses, so it keeps us away from the neighbors,” Edelstein said.

Sedewitz recommended that the Commission work to send letters to the residents near Hemenway Road to gage their thoughts on the parking issue before the Commission proceeds with making any changes.

The Traffic Commission said the topic will appear again on the June meeting agenda.

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Grace Mayer is a senior at Boston College studying marketing and journalism. She is also the head arts editor for Boston College’s newspaper, The Heights, where she’s covered the arts beat for three years. She is excited to report on a variety of beats for Framingham SOURCE this summer. You can contact her at gemayer007@gmail.com.