If parking has been the reason you skip a downtown dinner, the City of Fort Myers has taken that excuse away for a while.
Since June 25, the first two hours are free in all three of the city’s downtown parking garages. City Council approved the change as a pilot program, and the rates run through October 31, 2026.
The free hours apply to all 1,285 spaces across the City of Palms Garage, the Main Street Garage and the Luminary Hotel Garage.
What you pay after the first two hours
- First 2 hours: free
- 3rd hour: $3
- Each additional hour: $1
- Daily maximum: $10
- After 5 p.m.: $5, which has not changed
The city says the goal is to get people to linger downtown a little longer, whether that means a meal, some shopping, an event or just a walk through the River District. Two hours covers most of that comfortably.
City staff will watch how much the garages get used during the pilot and use what they learn, along with feedback from residents, to shape future parking decisions. If the program matters to you, that is worth knowing before October 31 arrives.
A good weekend to try it out: the Fort Myers Farmers Market runs Saturday mornings at First Street and Broadway, a short walk from all three garages.
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