Parking Meters Take Holiday in Downtown Denver

DENVER-Mayor Wellington Webb is giving last-minute Christmas shoppers a gift — free parking Downtown in the days leading up to Christmas. The free meter days are in effect on Dec. 22 to Dec. 24. Christmas Day, as always, also is free, of course.

The free meters costs the city about $60,000 in revenues from the metered spots, but it will be worth it if it draws more people to stores and restaurants.

“We want citizens from Denver and beyond to enjoy the holiday shopping opportunities Downtown has to offer as well as all of the Downtown dining and entertainment,” Webb says.

In addition to shopping, attractions include 100,000 twinkling lights decking out trees and Victorian buildings along the retail and office corridor of Larimer Square.

New this year is the Downtown Skating Rink behind the D&F Tower at Skyline Park on the 16th Street Mall and Arapahoe streets. The city is one of the major sponsors of the rink.