IE Business Daily Business news for the Inland Empire.
Two lanes of Palm Canyon Drive in downtown Palm Springs have reopened, part of a revised outdoor dining program being tested by the city.
The stretch between Tahquitz Canyon Way and Baristo Road reopened to through traffic Wednesday, with outdoor dining on both sides of the street, according to a statement on the city’s website.
The move is part of the city’s “Al Fresco Dining in the Street” pilot program, a revised effort meant to allow outdoor dining during COVID-19. The move was prompted by Riverside County’s recent move back into the more restrictive purple tier, which prohibits outdoor dining in restaurants.
State officials ordered that move after an increase in COVID-19 cases in Riverside County.
“The city’s outdoor dining pilot program was always meant to be flexible to meet the changing needs of our business community and address ongoing COVID-19 challenges,” said City Manager David H. Ready in the statement.
The statement did not include an expiration date for the program.
Free covered parking spaces are available at two downtown parking garages, the first with entrances in three places: the Hyatt Hotel ramp on Palm Canyon Drive, at Museum Drive and Belardo Road, and at Museum Drive and Tahquitz Canyon Way.
The second parking structure is at Indian Canyon Drive and Baristo Road.
