So, let me get this straight.

For the better part of 20 years, the looming American Dream mall — sorry, “retail and entertainment center” — sat unfinished in the Meadowlands, leading daily passersby to wonder whether the gargantuan eyesore off Route 3 was in the process of being put up or torn down.

Now, as the waking nightmare is finally set to open some of its attractions Friday, it officially announced Monday that patrons would need pay to park in the 11,000-space lot adjacent to MetLife Stadium. Here’s the pricing breakdown:

0 – 29 min: Free

30 min - 3 hours: $3

Up to 4:59 hours/min: $4

Up to 6:59 hours/min: $5

Up to 7:59 hours/min: $6

8+ hours: $24 (Maximum all day rate applies)

Wait for the gut punch: If there’s a Jets or Giants game, concert or other event going down at MetLife, event parking pricing — a whopping $30 — is in effect at American Dream’s parking lot, too.

On one hand, paying to park at the mall, where you will enter and almost certainly spend more money, feels like a bridge too far. Even the elitist Mall at Short Hills doesn’t make you pay to park before you browse Neiman Marcus for Gucci cat toys.

But on the other hand, doesn’t this feel just about on par for New Jersey — the place that invented paying to lay on the beach and maintains the highest property taxes in the country?

Friendly reminder that we’re the most congested state, too — maybe parking deserves to be priced at a premium considering how freaking many of us there are. Get out of the left lane, Linda!

It’s worth mentioning that patrons visiting American Dream this weekend (Oct. 25 to 27) will not have to pay for parking. And going forward, folks visiting the Nickelodeon Universe indoor theme park (which costs $39.99 or $49.99 per ticket) may validate their parking.

Still, this feels like a win for “Big Parking” in New Jersey, where to do basically anything fun you’ll be paying to leave your car: shelling out for trips to Six Flags or the beach, feeding the meters in Princeton, New Brunswick and Asbury Park or dealing with the parking disasters in Montclair and Hoboken that will almost certainly lead you to a pricey garage.

But look at the bright side: as far as we know, swimming in the Meadowland swamp is still free — until you’re fined for trespassing, of course.

See more of our ongoing coverage of the upcoming American Dream mega-mall here.

Bobby Olivier may be reached at bolivier@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BobbyOlivier and Facebook. Find NJ.com on Facebook.