To promote parking accessibility and turnover in downtown Gainesville, the city will implement by May 2026 a paid-parking system geared toward drivers occupying surface spaces for longer than two hours.
As earlier reported, through ParkGVL, a pay-by-mobile system supported by ParkDNA, drivers will use a ticketless QR code system, recording their license plate, vehicle make/model and parking zone before rendering payment (via the app or by text). After two free hours (redeemable once daily with QR code scan 𝘢𝘯𝘥 check-in), a $4 hourly rate will apply until 11 p.m., when parking becomes free until 7 a.m. the following day.
The information below details the City’s planned ParkGVL deployment schedule:
- 𝗡𝗢𝗪-𝗔𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗟 | ParkGVL signage will be installed at applicable locations around the historic square in Downtown Gainesville.
- 𝗔𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗟 𝟲-𝟭𝟵 | ParkGVL will undergo a soft launch where users are encouraged, but not required, to engage the system. They 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒏𝒐𝒕 be required to pay for parking.
- 𝗔𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗟 𝟮𝟬-𝗠𝗔𝗬 𝟯 | Users will be asked to engage the ParkGVL system, but 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒏𝒐𝒕 be required to pay for parking.
- 𝗠𝗔𝗬 𝟰 | The ParkGVL system officially goes live, requiring both engagement upon arrival 𝘢𝘯𝘥 payment after two free hours (redeemable once daily with QR code scan 𝘢𝘯𝘥 check-in).
A few weeks ago an online petition was started in protest of the plan.