<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4ammjC_0wKxisDk00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4ammjC_0wKxisDk00" width="1500" height="844" >CHICO, Calif. — The City of Chico is trying something different this year to encourage residents to shop locally this holiday season.Each year, the city typically pauses parking enforcement every Friday during the holiday, but this year, they’re taking it a step further. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, it will be free to park downtown every day.Councilmember Tom van Overbeek says he came up with the idea after a recent visit to Southern California."If you say okay 'what’s different about going to downtown compared to going to a shopping center?' Having to pay for parking is part of it. There’s sort of the hassle factor, not the dollar an hour, but it’s inconvenient. So the holidays gave us a perfect opportunity to experiment with what’s going to happen if we make it free," Van Overbeek said.Parking will be free for two hours only. This is to allow for turnover among visitors to downtown and to give university staff and students a chance to park as well.</div></body>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

Chico extends free parking to all days downtown this holiday season

CHICO, Calif. — The City of Chico is trying something different this year to encourage residents to shop locally this holiday season. Each year, the city typically pauses parking enforcement every Friday during the holiday, but this year, they’re taking it a step further. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, it will be free to park downtown every day.