Business & Tech
Free Parking Extended Through 2013
Cleveland Heights will extend its free parking program through the end of 2013 to encourage patrons to check out the city's attractions.
Cleveland Heights City Council decided Monday to extend its free parking program through the end of 2013.
The program allows anyone to park at meters at no charge the last Friday, Saturday and Sunday of each month.
"I think it's really simple: we did it and we found out that it works. Merchants really like it," said Mayor Ed Kelley.
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He added that the last weekends of each month — usually the slowest for small businesses as customers tighten their belts until their next paycheck — have boomed at Cleveland Heights businesses since the program began in June 2012.
"And not only do they come the last weekend of the month and park for free, but they come back other times of the month," Kelley added.
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"It gives people a chance to see other things about Cleveland Heights. And they might come out and decide to rent an apartment, or buy a house."
The city will lose between $30,000 to $40,000 in uncollected meter fares through 2013 with the program, but Kelley added that the investment is well worth it — and it frees police to pursue other crime instead of writing tickets.
The next free parking weekend is January 25 to 27.
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