SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Local leaders gathered in downtown Saratoga Springs on Tuesday for a ceremonial "turning off" of the city's parking meters. It marks the official start of the racing off-season and the return of free parking.

Starting Tuesday and continuing through Memorial Day, residents and visitors will not have to pay at meters or use online systems to park downtown. It amounts to 264 days of free parking in the city.

Saratoga Springs Commissioner of Public Works Chuck Marshall said the initiative is to help local businesses and vendors while also benefiting residents from neighboring communities.

"I think they look at people from Wilton and Greenfield, who consider this their downtown, too. They're going to be the ones on a year-round basis who come down, and they

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