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City rolls out free downtown parking on Saturdays

Downtown Penticton Association hopes to encourage traffic with free Saturday parking in December

Downtown customers can leave the car curbside on Saturdays for free.

The Downtown Penticton Association executive director Barb Haynes wrote council seeking a reprieve on parking for Saturdays in December, to spread the past practice of holiday cheer.

With four Saturdays leading up to Christmas, merchants want to encourage traffic in the downtown core by enticing residents with free parking on Saturdays.

“It’s something we’ve done in the past and we need to do our part,” Coun. Andrew Jakubeit said.

The first Saturday includes the Santa Parade, featuring free activities for children and families from 2 to 4 p.m. and free movies at the Pen-Mar Cinema. The association has co-ordinated crafts, games and entertainment leading up to the parade as families wait on the street.

“The merchants of the downtown would appreciate an opportunity to advertise free parking on Saturdays and bring additional customers downtown during the busiest shopping season,” Haynes wrote. “The Downtown Penticton Association will promote this opportunity on behalf of the city and include it in all our advertising leading up to Christmas.”

Treasurer Doug Leahy said that the 2011 budget could be adjusted to accommodate the loss in parking revenue.

Council unanimously passed a motion to offer free parking downtown on Saturdays during the month of December.