As winter storms come and go, so do the familiar lawn chairs, cones, and assorted household items that magically appear in Boston parking spaces. A friendly reminder to South End residents: space savers have never been permitted in this neighborhood, and that rule has not changed.

While some Boston neighborhoods allow residents to mark shoveled-out spots during snow emergencies, the South End is permanently exempt. Shoveling earns appreciation — not ownership.

Local officials and news coverage repeat this every winter because, every winter, the myth resurfaces that space savers are allowed "this time." They aren't.

So please clear your space, park respectfully, and leave the chairs at home. In the South End, winter parking remains a shared civic exercise — no props required.