Parking for Hope Returns to Downtown Santa Cruz Dec. 18–25
Published on December 11, 2025
The City of Santa Cruz, in partnership with the Downtown Association of Santa Cruz, will host the eleventh annual Parking for Hope downtown holiday parking campaign from Thursday, Dec. 18, through Thursday, Dec. 25, 2024. During the campaign, proceeds from downtown street parking meters and ParkMobile stations will be donated to Hope Services, a local nonprofit organization.
For more than 25 years, Hope Services has helped keep Pacific Avenue and other downtown Santa Cruz streets clean while providing training, employment, and support services to adults with developmental disabilities.
To date, Parking for Hope has generated $285,580 in support of Hope Services. Funds raised through the campaign help pay wages for the nonprofit’s Downtown Litter Abatement Crew.
The Downtown Litter Abatement Crew employs five part-time workers, many of whom have worked with Hope Services for years. One crew member, Tony V., shared, “I love to clean off the garbage cans. I like picking up trash. I love being around people in my community.”
Last year’s campaign raised $17,835, allowing for additional crew workdays to keep downtown clean and free of debris. The greater the Parking for Hope contribution, the more hours the crew can dedicate to cleaning downtown Santa Cruz.
Beginning Dec. 17, all downtown parking meters will be posted with placards describing the Parking for Hope campaign. For the eleventh consecutive year, 40 cents from each ParkMobile pay-by-phone transaction will also be donated to Hope Services.
Please note that regular payment is still required at all City parking meters and ParkMobile stations during the Parking for Hope campaign.