McDonough officials hope that by the end of the year, parking downtown will become clearer for both residents and visitors of the Square.

The city council voted to move forward with manufacturing signs that indicate and direct visitors to free parking in the downtown area.

Community Development Director John Cheek said downtown merchants have brought up in the past that parking downtown was difficult to find for visitors.

An Atlanta Regional Commission study confirmed that sentiment, noting that while the city has 3,000 available parking spaces from the Square to Zack Hinton Parkway, they are underutilized.

A few months ago, Main Street McDonough paired up with Lanier Parking Solutions to remedy that.

What has been born of the effort is directional signs that will point to at least three designated free parking areas for downtown visitors — the county’s two-story judicial center parking deck on Lawrenceville Street, the judicial surface lot also on Lawrenceville and the city’s free lot at the corner of Tarpley and Hampton streets.

The city also owns a structure at 32 Jonesboro St., where parking is permitted.

However, Cheek said he does not know at this point whether signage will be placed at the location.

Metered spaces will also have stickers placed on the parking meter letting visitors know that free parking is available throughout the downtown area.

All in all, eight directional signs, three or four signs indicating the free lots and meter stickers will be placed in the downtown area.

Cheek said the total for all materials will be $1,800 and installation will be done in-house.