Free holiday parking returns next week

As of next week, if you are heading to downtown St. Catharines or Port Dalhousie for holiday activities, you will be able to enjoy the gift of free parking on weekday afternoons. The annual parking promotion, offered by the City of St. Catharines and the St. Catharines Downtown Association, begins on Monday, Dec. 11. The program was launched to bring people downtown during the holiday season. The City is offering up to three hours of free parking – between noon and 6 p.m. weekdays – from Monday, Dec. 11 through to Friday, Dec. 29. The parking promotion will be in effect at City-owned on-street metered spots and City-owned parking lots with pay machines. Those taking advantage of free afternoon parking are still subject to the City’s three-hour time limit. The City’s parking garage on Ontario Street is once again eligible for free parking from noon to 6 p.m. on weekdays, for a maximum of three hours. Those parking at the garage who are visiting a downtown business can ask for a voucher from the business, providing for three hours of free parking at the garage. The City’s parking garage at Garden Park / Carlisle Street is not included in the promotion. Visit stcatharines.ca/parking for more information, including a downtown parking map.