Tourists and locals making a quick trip to downtown Old Orchard Beach next summer will be able to park for free for up to 30 minutes on the main drag.

During the summer, when the town’s population (according to the town website) swells from about 9,000 to about 75,000 people, street-side and town lot parking in the downtown has traditionally been metered. During the winter, parking downtown is free.

Last summer, the Town Council opened up a handful of free 15-minute parking spaces on Old Orchard Street for people making a quick stop downtown to pick up take-out food orders.

Due to the positive response, the Town Council decided to take this measure a step further. On Tuesday night, the Council approved a change to open up more short-term free parking in the downtown. Starting next year, all on-street parking spaces on Old Orchard Street, the main street that goes through downtown, will be free short-term parking during the summer. All on-street parking on Old Orchard Street, except for 9 one-hour handicap spaces, will be free 30-minute spaces.

The parking meter season currently runs from May 1 to Sept. 30. The Town Council is poised at its next meeting to vote to shorten the parking meter season so that it runs from May 1 to Labor Day Weekend.

Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at [email protected].