WORCESTER, Mass. - The first phase of a city-wide parking initiative will start in Worcester's Canal District on Tuesday, April 20.

“The City is experiencing rapid growth in both residential population and commercial development as well as a cultural destination,” said City Manager Edward M. Augustus, Jr. “With that growth comes the need to provide convenient, user-friendly parking and the responsibility to streamline parking operations."

The City of Worcester, partnering with Flowbird Group and Wescor Parking Controls, will introduce a pay-by-plate parking system which will eliminate the City’s single space parking meters in favor of Flowbird Strada smart kiosks. The upgrade is a part of the City’s plan to enhance parking accommodations for city residents, employees, small business patrons and attendees of large scale events.   

“Our Strategic plan is to provide our residents and visitors affordable, clean and convenient parking.  Collaborating with the Flowbird Group will enhance the parking customer experience and will allow the City to make quicker parking decisions based off of real time on-street parking data,” said Mark Kostovski, Parking Manager for the City of Worcester. 

Flowbird’s pay-by-plate system will help the City better manage parking turnover and is designed to encourage compliance with parking regulations and boost parking turnover.  The smart kiosk has a seven-inch full color display which guides the user step-by-step through their parking transaction, beginning with entering their license plate number and desired parking duration. 

Complementing the new multi-space meter and pay-by-plate system is a mobile payment application powered by the Passport Operating System, allowing motorists to safely manage and pay for parking through their smartphones.

The new parking system is expected to rollout in other neighborhoods in the City over the course of the next year. More information available at www.parkworcester.com.

The City of Worcester and the Worcester Red Sox will release a parking plan in the coming days for Polar Park that highlights the available lots, garages and other parking options available for game-day and event parking.