State College is set to begin a six‑month pilot program that requires visitors to pay for street parking in selected neighborhoods during Penn State football home weekends.
Under the plan, anyone who wants to park on those streets between 6 p.m. Friday and 6 p.m. Sunday on game days must purchase a digital pass through the borough’s parking platform, with the option of a $25 24‑hour session or a $50 48‑hour pass.
The fee structure is intended to generate revenue while keeping the cost modest for out‑of‑town guests, and it is projected to bring in as much as $350,000 for the borough.
Residents who already hold 'R' or 'R‑1' parking permits will continue to enjoy unrestricted access to their permit zones, a concession designed to protect neighborhood parking privileges.
Council member Matt Herndon, who supported the measure, says the modest surcharge will help fund the municipal services that swell during game days, from trash collection to public safety.
The pilot will apply only to areas where parking is currently allowed during daylight hours but restricted overnight, ensuring that the new rules do not create arbitrary no‑parking zones.
Garage permit holders will also be permitted to use adjacent street commuter zones on Saturdays, a flexibility aimed at easing congestion around the stadium.
Borough officials estimate that implementing the program will cost roughly $38,000 in materials and labor, yet they anticipate generating up to $350,000 in revenue if participation meets expectations, with a formal review scheduled for January to decide whether the pilot should become permanent.