Free Downtown Parking Extended for Holidays

Shopping downtown is a little easier, starting today.

Between now and January 1, 2012, the City of Palo Alto is relaxing its parking enforcement downtown in order to allow shoppers and visitors four hours of free parking in all public parking garages.

 "The Holiday Season is critical to our merchants in Downtown Palo Alto”, said Russ Cohen, Executive Director of the Palo Alto Downtown Business & Professional Association, in a statement. “Your support not only helps your local businesses, it keeps your sales tax dollars in Palo Alto."

The extended parking garages include Alma/High Streets (Garage R), Bryant/Lytton (Garages/L), Civic Center (Garage CC), Cowper/Webster (Garage WC), and Ramona/University (Garage B).

Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce Interim CEO Paul Wright said extending parking is great news  for downtown businesses.

“Extending the hours in the downtown parking garages to four hours during the holiday season affords customers the opportunity to linger in downtown Palo Alto to enjoy the unique retail and hospitality experience,” said Paul Wright, Interim CEO/President. “All of our garages are within a block of University Avenue, conveniently located throughout the entire downtown shopping district.”

Surface street parking and surface parking lots will continue to allow parking for two hours at a time.