College Park Considers Adding ParkMobile for Easier Parking Payments

At its May 13 meeting, the City Council will consider a proposal to bring ParkMobile, a nationally recognized mobile parking app, to downtown College Park as a secondary “Pay by Cell” option for metered parking. This move aims to give drivers more flexibility and improve the overall parking experience in the city.

Since July 2020, College Park has offered mobile payments through the AIMS Amp Park app. While that system remains in place, residents and visitors have shown interest in using the more widely adopted ParkMobile platform, which is already used in over 600 cities across the U.S.—including nearby Washington, D.C., and Baltimore. In fact, more than 8,800 residents in College Park ZIP codes are already ParkMobile users, accounting for over 34,000 transactions.

Why ParkMobile?
ParkMobile provides a robust suite of features that make parking easier and more convenient:

• Users can pay via app, website, text, or phone call, supporting equitable access for people without smartphones or credit cards.

• The system allows for real-time notifications about expiring sessions and easy extensions from a phone.

• The app is integrated with a cloud-based enforcement portal, enabling staff to verify parking activity without added enforcement costs.

• No upfront costs for the City—ParkMobile covers the cost of signage, setup, customer service, and promotional support.

Costs and Fees
For users, ParkMobile will charge a $0.40 transaction fee during the first year—slightly more than the $0.35 fee from the current AIMS app. This fee could rise annually by about 10%, potentially reaching $0.57 per transaction over five years, depending on usage levels.

From the City’s side, ParkMobile will charge 3% of each transaction plus a $0.20 per transaction processing fee. These fees are comparable to those already incurred through AIMS, meaning the fiscal impact to the City will be minimal.

Equity and Inclusion Impact
One major benefit of ParkMobile is its commitment to equitable access. Those without smartphones can call a toll-free number to pay. People without credit cards can use PayPal or reloadable prepaid cards from retailers like GreenDot or NetSpend. This flexibility ensures that all members of the community—including the unbanked and underconnected—can use the system fairly.

What’s Next?
If approved, ParkMobile’s launch would be 30–60 days from contract signing. The implementation team will work with City staff to configure parking zones, train enforcement teams, create signage, and roll out a marketing campaign to introduce the service to residents and visitors.

📅 Council Vote: Tuesday, May 13, 2025
🕢 Time: 7:30 PM
📍 Location: City Hall or online via Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/92398574069

This proposal reflects College Park’s broader efforts to modernize city services and improve the downtown experience. By offering another convenient option for parking payment, the City continues to put residents and visitors first—making every trip downtown easier, more accessible, and customer-friendly.