After receiving almost $2,200 from a Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development Department (SRPEDD) grant, the town of Mattapoisett has 22 new parking places for residents. But before you get out your parking sticker, these are for bicycles only.

The Bicycle Parking Grant was open to the 27 towns in the region and funded through the Federal Highway Administration's Congestion Mitigation/Air Quality Program. The cost of shipping and installing the racks was up to the town.

Bonne DeSousa, president of the friends of the Mattapoisett Bike Path, said acquiring the SRPEDD grant and installing the racks was a group effort.

"The town administrator ordered the racks, Friends paid for the concrete and kept track of the paperwork, [and the] Highway Department installed the racks," said DeSousa.

She said they only expected to get funding for nine to 12 racks, but more funds were available than was originally thought. DeSousa had already prioritized nine town-owned locations that would benefit from bike racks. With the additional funds, the town was able to put in a total of 22 permanent racks.

The simple U shaped racks are now in place at Old Town Landing on Mattapoisett Neck Road, Aucoot Cove Beach and Aucoot Cove Road, the baseball fields at Old Hammondtown School, Ned's Point, Town Beach, the Council on Aging, the tennis courts in the Village and near the tennis court and track at Old Rochester Regional High School.

The town will also place two portable racks at Town Wharf. Due to construction and traffic, the area was deemed better suited for moveable racks.

More bike racks will pop up soon, said DeSousa. Money raised through the Bike Friendly Rewards program, a card that offers discounts at local businesses, will go towards new racks at some participating businesses.

DeSousa said people can still help fund the project by buying Bike Friendly Maps, available at Town Wharf General Store, How on Earth, Mattapoisett Clipper, No Kidding! and Pen and Pendulum.

"They make great stocking stuffers!" she said.