The new North Barstow Street parking ramp in Eau Claire.

Just in time to serve this summer's Farmers Market shoppers and attendees of the Sounds like Summer Concert Series in Phoenix Park, Eau Claire's new downtown parking ramp on North Barstow Street opened Thursday, August 4 at 11am.

The city says parking in the 769-spot ramp will be free until September 1. Users will then be charged 50 cents an hour with a maximum 24-hour fee of $8. These fees will be collected 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. (In other words, there’s no off-hour free parking to be had.)

An official ribbon cutting ceremony is set for  Thursday, August 11.