Groton Will Ask For Extension Of Free Parking In Downtown Mystic

Groton has spent more than $32,000 of the $50,000 it approved and the mayor said she would speak to the Art Center to see if it would extend the free parking further.

The deal with the art center was to cover five hours of parking for anyone in the lot, in an effort to lure shoppers back to downtown Mystic. Under the arrangement, the Art Center pays the first half hour, and the town pays the next four and a half hours.

But the council learned Tuesday that it has already spent more than $32,000 of the money, and given this, the $50,000 would provide free parking for about ten more days.

Town Manager Mark Oefinger said that most people park in the lot for two to three hours.

Town Councilor Bruce Flax said since Groton is making sure the Art Center doesn’t lose parking money, it should seek assistance from the group.

“I would think that because we’re guaranteeing them that $50,000, we should try to get some goodwill from them and see if they can try to give us the two to three weeks,” he said. The hope was that free parking would last for six weeks. It’s lasted about three.

Mayor Heather Bond Somers said she would have a conversation with the group and see if there is some way to extend the free parking beyond what the council is paying for. She said she visited businesses recently who said free parking is having an impact.  She added that they’re glad the streetscape paving is done.

“Many have told me that the past two weeks have been the best for business that they’ve had in a long time,” she said.

Flax said that in the near future, he wants to take a closer look at the Mystic Streetscape project

Oefinger said he wants to get the project done first.

Contractors are still working on installing pavers, planters and removing poles and overhead wires. Some sidewalks were poured temporary and will have to be replaced as poles are removed, he said.