Closed Portion of Palm Canyon Drive Re-opens

Palm Canyon Drive Re-opens as Part of Newly Revised “Al Fresco” Outdoor Dining Pilot Program

PALM SPRINGS — Two lanes of Palm Canyon Drive between Tahquitz Canyon Way and Baristo Road will reopen to through traffic today, Wednesday, Oct. 28, while allowing for outdoor dining parklets on both sides of the street as part of the newly revised outdoor “Al Fresco” Dining-in -he Street Pilot Program.

Due to increased COVID-19 cases, the state of California recently ordered Riverside County to return to the purple tier, which means restaurants are prohibited from offering indoor dining and must expand service outdoors.

“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 challenges,” City Manager David H. Ready said in a prepared statement.

The city was likely nudged into revising its original plan, which called for closing two blocks of Palm Canyon Drive in early September, after some retailers and other businesses cried foul, claiming their business were hurt. A property and business owner also filed a lawsuit.

The purpose of the original closure assist restaurants by giving them more space to set up outdoor patios.

Hundreds of free covered parking spaces are available at two downtown parking garages with entrances at the Hyatt Hotel ramp on Palm Canyon Drive, Museum Drive and Belardo Road, Museum Drive and Tahquitz Canyon Way – or on the corner of Indian Canyon Drive and Baristo Road.