You can park free right now in downtown State College — for a limited time. What to know
Free parking is back in downtown State College — at least for the next two weeks.
Between Tuesday and Aug. 18, all municipal parking — meters, lots and garages — will offer free two-hour parking to downtown visitors and residents. The temporary measure was formally approved Monday night by Borough Council, after it was proposed by the Downtown State College Improvement District.
According to the DSCID, the free-parking initiative was aimed at “invigorating the downtown area following a challenging construction season.” With Penn State classes set to begin Aug. 26 and with students soon arriving, the downtown area is set to see an influx of people. So, in some ways, the next two weeks will be as easy as a visit to State College gets.
“We’re thrilled to provide this opportunity for our community to enjoy everything downtown has to offer,” DSCID Executive Director Lee Anne Jeffries said in a written statement. “After a season of construction disruptions, we hope this initiative will make it easier for the community to explore and support our local businesses.”
Much of the roadwork this year has stemmed from the Calder Way project, a multi-year initiative focused on replacing aging infrastructure and turning Calder Way into a pedestrian-preferred corridor. Ongoing roadwork on Atherton Street hasn’t helped matters.
Although no businesses have temporarily closed as a result of the project, detours and roadwork haven’t made for the most convenient downtown trips. The Calder Way project is expected to continue through at least 2027.
For more information on the parking initiative and downtown businesses, go to downtownstatecollege.com.
