Free two-hour parking – now available to visitors to Chinatown

The City of Calgary, Calgary Parking Authority (CPA), and Chinatown Business Improvement Area (CBIA) are partnering to offer free two-hour parking to visitors coming to enjoy Chinatown’s rich culture and all it has to offer.

“With all the improvements in the area, it’s important for us to work with the community and CBIA to find new and innovative parking solutions that support the continued vibrancy of Chinatown and its businesses,” says Sheryl McMullen, program manager for The City’s Downtown Strategy, which is funding the parking subsidy.

“We’re committed to optimizing and improving the parking services we offer to Chinatown residents and visitors,” says CPA Acting General Manager Moe Houssaini. “And we’re excited to continue to support local businesses through this collaborative parking promotion at one of our prime downtown surface lots.”

Free two-hour parking is available at CPA Lot 888 (109 Riverfront Ave. S.E) when you register your licence plate at a ParkPlus pay machine. This temporary promotion is limited to one free parking session per vehicle, per day.

"The provision of 2-hours free parking is a continuing effort by the BIA to make Chinatown a 'must visit’ destination and a great visitor experience that is available, accessible and affordable for everyone to enjoy noon hour dim sum, evening family dinners, and weekend cultural experiences," says CBIA Executive Director Terry Wong.

Chinatown is a distinct and special community in Calgary. It’s an active place to visit and stays vibrant throughout the day, evening, and well into the night.

CBIA Chairperson Grace Su adds that this initiative is a much-needed boost to help encourage patrons to spend a longer time enjoying all the amenities and eateries of this unique cultural community.

This partnership was made possible through Tomorrow’s Chinatown, a collaboration to create the first Cultural Plan and a new Local Area Plan for Chinatown.

The City will be collecting data from this parking initiative to help inform future funding decisions for the Downtown Strategy, and policy decisions in the new Chinatown Local Area Plan.

Free two-hour parking at the Riverfront lot in Chinatown runs until winter 2022.

Free parking options and local deals in downtown

Calgarians can now take advantage of a new weekday promotion in seven CPA parkades. Receive complimentary evening parking (6 p.m. to 6 a.m.) with the purchase of a full daily parking session in City Centre, McDougall, City Hall, Lot 40, Centennial, Convention Centre and Platform Parkade.

For those who are transitioning back to the office or who have more sporadic requirements, CPA has developed an inaugural weekday Flex Pass; prepay for 10 daily parking sessions in select downtown CPA parkades and receive 25 per cent off.

And the newest feature on CPA’s MyParking app — Local Deals — will connect users with businesses they know and love. The feature, which appears for three days after you start a ParkPlus parking session, unlocks coupon codes that you can use at your favourite participating YYC businesses within a five km radius.

Please visit CalgaryParking.com for more information on how and where to access the CPA’s parking promotions discounts.