Free parking in New Haven?

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NEW HAVEN >> Park New Haven, the manager of more than 8,000 downtown parking spaces, and 16 city restaurants Monday announced a “Downtown Restaurants Parking Partnership” program that will bring validated parking to patrons, according to a release.

Beginning Tuesday, the program “will give dining patrons free validated parking in the Temple or Crown Street Garages at a diverse assortment of participating downtown eateries, the release said. “This partnership is the first of its kind in any city in Connecticut, and continues a long track record of improvements and forward thinking in the way people interact with parking in the city of New Haven over the last few years.”

“New Haven is known across the nation for its superb dining options and people from all over come here to enjoy what we have to offer. Taking down the perceived barrier of the cost of parking to go out to dinner further extends the Elm City’s welcome to diners from around the state and the region,” New Haven Mayor John DeStefano Jr. said, also in the release “Park New Haven is helping to change the overall experience of parking when someone comes downtown to go out to dinner, and we’re excited to be a part of it.”

“We see this program as a game-changer for both our downtown restaurants, and for those coming into New Haven for dinner,” Park New Haven Acting Executive Director David B. Panagore said in the release. “We were challenged by our Board of Directors, led by Chairman Matthew Nemerson, to think outside the box and it led our team to creating this truly one of a kind program with support from our downtown restaurants, Town Green Special Services and Market New Haven.”

The program is funded equally through between Park New Haven and the restaurants, with each restaurant paying for a ($4) validation per patron who parks in one of the two Park New Haven downtown garages, the release said.

The $0 Restaurant Rate runs 4 to 10 p.m., the release said.

For a list of participating restaurants visit www.parknewhaven.com

Park New Haven is a quasi-municipal public parking provider.