The city of East Lansing is getting into the holiday spirit.
For several weekends in November and December, parking in the downtown lot ramps and at meters will be free.
Ami Field, assistant community events director for the city, said this program has been going on for several years as a way to lure people into doing their holiday shopping downtown.
“It’s basically to encourage people to come downtown to do their holiday shopping, it’s an incentive,” she said.
The free parking days kick off Friday through Sunday and return Dec. 8-9, Dec. 15-16 and daily from Dec. 22 through Jan. 2.
City Manager Ted Staton said it’s clear the parking incentive helps draw in larger crowds, but the program has another benefit for the city.
“It gets people to use our parking system and hopefully continue to use it,” Staton said. “When they see how clean and efficient the parking areas are and how close they are to the shopping district, they’ll use it again.”
The city has more than 2,500 public parking spaces that can be utilized at those times to visit more than 150 stores, restaurants and other services nearby.
Field said the program was initiated by members of the East Lansing Merchant’s Group with the approval of the city council.
After receiving acceptance its first year, they worked with East Lansing Parking and Code Enforcement to pick a suitable time for the free parking shopping days.
Animal science sophomore Kristen Daddow said the idea is a good one, though she is not sure how much she will utilize it.
“I think people will use it for shopping, but I think they will use it for other stuff too,” she said. “I would park down there to go to some other places, to study and do other stuff.
“I know I am not alone, I know other people will use it too.”
And in the next week, the walk from cars to businesses and back again will also be in the holiday spirit.
The holiday banners that align the city’s streets will be put up. Each banner is sponsored by a different downtown merchant. Lights have already begun to appear along the shops on Grand River Avenue and for the first time, the clock tower on the corner of M.A.C. and Albert avenues will be decorated.
“We’re going to line it with white lights and a holiday tree will go in the planter next to it,” she said.
Linda Dvfelmeier, co-owner of Mackerel Sky Gallery of Contemporary Craft, 217 Ann St., said while the free parking doesn’t always draw in more customers, it does draw more people to the downtown area.
“It’s always nice to have free parking, people are always happy to receive something for free,” she said. “It’s especially nice for those who are loyal to the downtown on a regular basis.”
