In an effort to ensure efficient use of street-level parking spaces in downtown Gainesville, the city plans to implement by May a paid-parking system geared toward drivers occupying surface spaces for longer than two hours. The Mayor and City Council approved the plan at Tuesday night’s meeting. (EDITOR’S NOTE: Scroll down to see the rest of the story.)
The goal of the pay-by-mobile system through ParkDNA, the “ParkGVL” app is to encourage turnover by discouraging long-term parking — which has long been the case for surface spaces on and surrounding the square — by requiring motorists to pay to park based on their intended length of stay. Through ParkGVL, drivers will use a ticketless QR code system, recording their license plate, vehicle make/model and parking zone before rendering payment. To pay, users can also send a text message to a specific number.
“Despite the City continuing to offer free, untimed and covered parking in the Main Street and Gainesville North parking decks, we have for many years observed drivers occupying parking spaces directly on the square and side streets for extended periods of time — throughout the day and evening,” City Manager Bryan Lackey said, “which isn’t the intended use for these spaces. I’d even go as far to say that sometimes we observe the same vehicles occupying spaces for six, seven, even eight hours straight or longer.”
Paid parking, which encourages drivers to park for shorter durations, will allow more people to access these surface parking spaces — especially those who need them, like the elderly, those with mobility challenges, injuries, etc. It also facilitates a better flow of traffic and reduces parking congestion.
“When it comes down to it, these parking spaces are intended for those coming into town to support downtown restaurants, retailers and service providers,” Lackey said. “By implementing an hourly rate after the first two hours, our hope is those who intend to use these spaces to enjoy a meal, grab coffee with a friend or do a little shopping won’t mind paying a small fee starting on the third hour to support their favorite small business(es). This system is not structured to serve as a revenue generator, but to discourage those who plan to stay for great lengths of time — either most of or the entire day — from taking these spots and instead utilizing our free parking decks, which are well within walking distance to any destination on the square.”
Those who prefer to park on the square will pay nothing for the first two hours with a QR code scan and check-in — a payment method isn’t even required to initiate the free session, although free sessions can only be redeemed once daily. At the two-hour mark, drivers will receive an electronic prompt with an option to extend their session by providing a credit card number. After two hours, a $4 hourly rate will apply until 11 p.m. From 11 p.m.-7 a.m., no hourly fee is proposed.
Spaces included in the ParkGVL initiative account for, roughly, only 15% of public parking in downtown Gainesville. This percentage drastically decreases if including the number of free spaces provided in the Hall County Parking Facility, which is managed by Hall County Government.
“The City has coordinated with ParkDNA to ensure hourly rates are lower than those charged by privately owned parking lots off the square, which are sometimes mistaken for City or public parking lots,” Lackey said. “Additionally, while the public adjusts to this new platform, citations issued for non-compliance will be far more forgiving for the first offense than those other lots.”
Refined Parking Solutions Founder and CEO Dilshan Singh echoed Lackey’s sentiments about ParkDNA (ParkGVL) and the benefit it could have on Gainesville.
“Effective parking management isn’t about generating more revenue — it’s about creating access,” Singh said. “By increasing parking turnover and ensuring availability, cities like Gainesville are making it easier for residents and visitors to support local businesses, dine, shop and enjoy everything their communities have to offer. At ParkDNA, we are proud to provide technology that helps cities and operators create a seamless, user-friendly parking experience that ultimately strengthens local economies and enhances community vibrancy. We’re honored to collaborate with the City of Gainesville on this initiative and look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on local businesses and the community.”
Spaces on portions of the following streets will become pay-to-park by early May: Bradford Street, Brenau Avenue, Broad Street, Green Street, Main Street, Maple Street, Spring Street and Washington Street. Signage will be erected as early as February and by April, the City will require drivers to engage with the system, although payment won’t be required until May 5. Review the official Gainesville Downtown Parking Map & Guide here.
“Paid parking also promotes fairness by ensuring that everyone pays for use of public parking spaces, preventing a situation where a few individuals or businesses dominate parking areas, leaving others with limited options,” Lackey said. “While we are thrilled by the support many businesses receive on a daily basis, the City also fields calls from other businesses that may not open until the later morning or whose more mature customers experience difficulty finding parking within a comfortable walking distance to their destination.”
Parking in the following nearby parking decks remain free: Main Street Parking Deck, 301 Main St. SW; Gainesville North Parking Deck, 100 Brenau Ave NE; and Hall County Parking Facility, 225 Green St. SE (public entrance on Spring Street only). The Main Street deck has 451 spaces, including nine accessible spots; while the Gainesville North deck has 410 spaces, also including nine accessible spots.
Funds generated will go back into the City’s general fund, like parking ticket revenue, and will be managed by Gainesville Municipal Court. The City will enforce these future parking measures.