Downtown Saturday Parking: Still free, but...

A WHOLE LOT OF PARKING GOING ON!

Let’s say you’ve come Downtown to spend the day visiting your favorite shops, restaurants and galleries but you can’t seem to find a place to park. Or maybe you’re just coming in on a Saturday to run a few errands and figure you’ll be in and out of town under two hours, but there doesn’t seem to be a place to park. We know what you’re thinking. “What’s up with parking in New Haven?”

Well, we’ve got some good news and some bad news. The good news is street parking in Downtown on Saturdays is still FREE! The bad news is some folks think it’s OK to park in one spot all day, so things can get pretty dicey if you just want to drop off your dry cleaning or pick up a newspaper. Fact is, even though parking all day might seem convenient and cheap, spending too many hours at the same meter isn’t helping Downtown merchants do good business. Studies have shown that stores and restaurants are losing $45,000-$90,000 per metered space each year due to so-called “shopper stoppers.”

So, what’s the answer? Beginning May 1st, the City of New Haven’s Parking Enforcement Officers will be hitting the street to better enforce the existing Saturday parking ordinances. What does this mean for you? It means that you can come into New Haven on a Saturday and park for free on the street for as long as signage indicates (up to 2 hours depending on the location). It means that there’s a better chance of getting that great spot in front of your favorite coffee shop the next time you are in a hurry. It means local merchants won’t lose business because potential customers couldn’t find a parking spot. So in the end, everyone wins!

By the way, if you’re planning on spending a whole day in Downtown, why not park in an off-street garage or lot instead of at a metered space? It’s safe, easy and inexpensive! Not sure where the nearest one is located? Stop by INFO New Haven (1000 Chapel St) and pick up a Parking Guide. Believe us, there are lots and lots of lots! Click here or call 946-8075 for more on parking Downtown

SATURDAY FREE METER PARKING PROGRAM
Parking meter fees on the following block faces shall be waived on Saturdays.
Chapel Street	Both Sides	‑ between State and Orange ‑ between Church and Temple ‑ between Temple and College ‑ between College and High ‑ between High and York ‑ between York and Park
Temple Street	Both Sides	‑ between Church and No. Frontage
College Street	Both Sides	‑ between Elm and George
High Street	East Side	‑ between Crown and Elm
Broadway	North Side	‑ between York and Tower Parkway
York Street	Both Sides	‑ between Crown and Grove
Church Street	Both Sides	‑ between George and Elm
Whitney Avenue	Both sides	‑ between Grove and Trumbull
All other parking regulations on said block faces remain in full effect.
The Saturday parking fee waiver may be advertised by private means, and all block faces under this program may be marked by signage and/or other methods of notice on the blocks detailed above.
Established: August 10th,1999