New Haven: Free parking downtown on Saturdays in December

NEW HAVEN - Free parking will be available in certain parts of downtown beginning in Dec. 1, according to a release.
On Dec. 1, the Town Green District’s Downtown Ambassadors will cover parking meters on Chapel Street from Temple Street to York Street with bright green bags marked with 2 hours of free parking., the release said.  Ambassadors will begin bagging the meters between 7:30 and 8:00 a.m.
"The green bags are part of a holiday promotion by the Town Green Special Services District and the City of New Haven’s Department of Transportation, Traffic, and Parking to encourage people to visit Downtown New Haven during the holiday season," the release said.
"Each week, a different downtown shopping area is selected for the free parking promotion." 
 Remaining weeks for the promotion will include these dates and location, the release said:

·         December 8:  Elm Street from Church Street to State Street; Chapel Street from Orange Street to State Street; Orange Street from Chapel Street to George Street.

·         December 15: Whitney Avenue from Wall Street to Trumbull Street

·         December 21:  Chapel Street from York Street to Howe Street

·         December 28:  TGSPSD will bagg one block of meters per shopping district.

Also in the release: "The Town Green Special Services District is a business improvement district (BID )funded by a sur tax on property in Downtown New Haven to fund programs such as public space improvements, cleaning and maintenance Ambassadors,  INFO New Haven visitor center communications, advocacy and www.infonewhaven.com website."

Editor's note: All information in this post was contributed.