Holiday shoppers can enjoy free parking in Penticton’s downtown on certain days in December.

Penticton city council voted unanimously during the regular meeting on Nov. 19 to allow no-charge parking in the downtown on the four Saturdays in December: Dec. 7, 14, 21 and 28.

The city has done this for a number of years each December at the request of the Downtown Penticton Association (DPA) at a financial cost of about $5,000 to the city. Kelowna and Vernon also offer similar free downtown parking requested by their respective downtown associations.

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“Due to the 200-block lane way east construction project, which began September 2018 through to March 2019, the parking lot on Backstreet (behind Guerard’s) was closed off and parking stalls along Main Street, Front Street and Backstreet were regularly closed off due to open construction work,” read a letter from DPA which was included in the city staff report. “The amount of lost parking over the 2018 holiday season resulted in a substantial decline of retail sales.”

“Please note this will only apply to on-street metered parking stalls in downtown Penticton. City parking lots and private parking lot rules remain in effect,” stated the staff report. “The on-street pay parking system will resume on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020.”

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