Parking Payment Options for a Hassle-Free Summer 

parking-survey-fi

Parking-Survey-FI

By Michelle Moskowitz
Sentinel Correspondent

For many Greenwich residents, outdoor summer fun includes day trips to the beach, outdoor tennis matches, and frequent visits to town parks and recreational areas for kids. 

We’ve reached that time of year when town residents must register for their park/beach access passes (required from May 2 through Oct. 31) by visiting Town Hall for applications and registration. Residents who have a valid 2015 park pass may renew theirs online at webtrac.greemwichct.com.

Summer days also include shopping, dining out, and, of course, visiting local ice cream shops. If you’re ever stuck looking for quarters for the parking meter, one thing to make the ease of summer flow is the town’s Smart Cards. 

The Smart Card is a convenient way to pay for parking at parking meters on Greenwich Avenue and the side streets. To use the card, simply insert it into the slot (located next to the quarter slot) and the card will automatically add time to the meter in 25-cent increments while deducting that amount from the value on your card.

Smart Cards are re-loadable and can be purchased at the town of Greenwich Parking Services Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. There is a one-time fee of $5 for the card, and they are available in $10, $20 or $50 denominations. Smart Cards cannot be replaced if they are lost, so keep them in a safe place. To purchase a Smart Card, visit the Department of Parking Services at Town Hall or call (203) 618-3060. 

But while Smart Cards save time and energy (not to mention parking tickets) for Greenwich residents, the town is in the process of phasing out parking meters altogether and moving to multi-space meters and a pay by phone system. The upgrade allows users to pay with cash, coins, credit cards and smartphones. This system is already in place at the following parking lots in town: Island Beach, Horeseneck, the BOE North, Grigg Street, and Mason/Milbank and Benedict North and South lots. 

The MSM machine works like an ATM. Patrons type in their license plate number and follow the step-by-step instructions on the screen, or pay by phone using the ParkMobile app found in the App Store (iPhone) or on Google Play (Android phones). Users must sign up for the app and input the parking zone number for that lot. There is a minimal convenience fee for using the app.

Greenwich Avenue, along with its side streets, will take about a year or two before transitioning to the new system, so smart cards are still the key to hassle-free parking. 

Visit greenwichct.org for more information. 

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