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From Thanksgiving day through New Year’s Eve and every Thursday in between, anyone who parks in any of the city’s metered spaces won’t have to pay to park.

Asbury Park City Council members unanimously approved this year’s dates at their Nov. 12 meeting.

Last year, the city offered free parking on Wednesdays during the holiday season. The move to free parking on Thursdays was a request of the city’s chamber of commerce, as part of a cross-marketing initiative with the city for the benefit of its retail members, City Manager John “Jack” Kelly said.

Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day all fall on Thursdays this year.

“We asked for Thursday specifically,” said Jacki Pappas, the chamber’s executive director. “We’ve tried Wednesdays in the past but Thursdays have been more effective.”

Thursday’s placement in the calendar week helps to extend the weekend, Pappas said.

In addition to the Thursday reprieve, citywide free parking will also be in effect on Small Business Saturday — the Saturday nestled in between Black Friday and Cyber Monday — when holiday shoppers are encouraged to “shop small” at local businesses instead of big name department stores and large chain stores.

While metered parking assists with turn- over many business owners rely on, offering free parking during the holiday season keeps Asbury Park “in the mix” for holiday shoppers, she said, and the new addition of free parking on Small Business Saturday helps promote all of the new shops and restaurants that have opened this year.

“Free parking is the best added value we can give shoppers and diners,” she said. “With even more retail having sprouted up this year we have a great new environment to promote.”

Meters will display a message altering them of the free parking status so they walk away with a positive experience, according to Councilwoman Amy Quinn, who is also a member of the parking committee.

“We’re hopeful that this encourages people to shop in our shops and eat in our restaurants,” Quinn said.

Parking revenue in the city as of October 6 is up over a half million dollars, from $1,326,760.76 last year to $1,880,843.86 so far this year, city records show.

Here’s a complete list of the free parking dates:

• Thursday, Nov. 27 – Thanksgiving Day

• Saturday, Nov. 29 – Small Business Saturday

• Thursday, Dec. 4

• Thursday, Dec. 11

• Thursday, Dec. 18

• Thursday, Dec. 25 – Christmas Day

• Thursday, Jan. 1 – New Year’s Day

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