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Page last updated on January 22, 2024 at 11:12 am

Welcome to the City of Bloomington!

A variety of parking options exist downtown, including on-street, surface pay lots, and currently four centrally located parking garages.

If you're spending the day, or even multiple days, we encourage you to use one of our off-street parking garage options with reasonable rates and excellent convenience. There are also free parking opportunities at our garages, lots, and on-street spaces see below for details.

Here are three links that might be useful resources for your visit: downtown parking options, interactive parking map, and Parking Map Gallery

Parkmobile: Pay As You Go Smart Phone Mobile Pay App

New ParkMobile Enhancements and Upgrades Announced- December 12, 2022

Bloomington, Ind.– The City of Bloomington Parking Services is excited to introduce a new parking feature for ParkMobile users. Users can now pre-set the amount of time they want to park and can stop the parking session when desired. The duration of a parking session can easily be managed directly in the app and from a phone. The completely digital process puts parkers in charge of parking time. 

The changes include allowing parkers to select one-hour parking increments, including opting to cover the full 13 hours of enforcement. Downtown parking enforcement hours are from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday for all pay-by-phone and meter locations.  

“Bloomington’s thriving downtown businesses benefit from customers having accessible, efficient, and flexible parking,” said Mayor John Hamilton. “The ParkMobile changes offer users convenience and choice.” 

Users already familiar with the ParkMobile app may continue usage as before. This includes selecting up to 13 hours and stopping when parking time is completed or selecting a shorter duration and stopping a session sooner than the time selected. Users may also allow the selected time to expire and be charged for the entire time. Users can also be sent a text message reminder to extend a session. Currently, ParkMobile charges a convenience fee of $0.50 per transaction unless a user is a ParkMobile Pro or Wallet user.

Did you know that ParkMobile offers Equitable Access Considerations?

  • ParkMobile Pro: Users that utilize the ParkMobile service more than 4 to 5 times a week may upgrade to ParkMobile Pro for only $0.99 per month, and convenience fees will be reduced to $0.30 per transaction.

  • ParkMobile Wallet: Users that would like to save money on every transaction fee may utilize ParkMobile Wallet and place a minimum of $25 in their wallet; convenience fees will be reduced to $0.40 per transaction. 

  • No Smartphone? Drivers that don’t own smartphones may easily pay for parking by calling a toll-free IVR number and making a payment over the phone. This number is located on the lower right-hand corner of the new signage.

  • No Credit or Debit Card? Drivers without a credit card can use PayPal to connect a bank account or use a prepaid card as payment.

  • Unbanked? Drivers without bank accounts may use a prepaid card or a reloadable prepaid card from a retailer like GreenDot or Netspend.

New ParkMobile signage and stickers are now placed in areas where Parking Services offer both meter and pay-by-phone parking. Parking Services also now provides a QR code on all signs and stickers, allowing users to scan with their smartphone to pay.  

Users can pay by American Express, Discover, Visa, MasterCard, Google Pay, Apple Pay, PayPal, or a prepaid card or reloadable prepaid card. Payment features may be accessed by app usage, QR code, or telephone. These new enhancements and features are part of an effort to streamline the parking experience in the City of Bloomington.

Click to Park Mobile Frequently Asked Questions: Park Mobile Pay By Phone FAQ's

Please remember, to update your software on your phone when notified by your phone carrier, as well as your ParkMobile phone app to have the best pay by phone parking experience! 

Copy the link  into your browser for video tutorial on how to use the Parkmobile QR Code: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-Szs-5TZeU

Parking Meters & Pay Stations

How to Pay

Use credit cards, debit cards, or coins.

  • If using coins - $0.25 per 15 minutes
  • Meters will accept $1 coins, quarters, dimes, and nickels
  • If using a credit or debit card, there's a 1-hour minimum purchase
  • A convenience fee of $0.30 per card swipe is added 
  • MasterCard, Visa, and Discover are accepted
  • Meters will not accept paper currency
  • Parking meters will not give change

 

Parking Meters & Parking Pay Stations Enforcement Hours

Monday through Saturday – 8:00 am to 9:00 pm

Meters & Pay Stations are free on Sundays and all official City of Bloomington holidays. 

 

Downtown Parking Garages

Click here to learn more about Downtown Parking Garages

 

Downtown Surface Lots

Parking meter rates are $1.00 per hour, each lot is Parkmobile ready, and lots are free after 9:00 pm daily, Sundays, and on all official City of Bloomington holidays.  All lots are enforced 8:00 am to 9:00 pm Monday through Saturday.

Lot 1 - Dunn Street and E. 4th Street (just off of Restaurant Row)

Lot 3 - E. 4th Street and Washington Street (behind the Buskirk-Chumley Theater)

Lot 5 - E. 6th Street and Lincoln Street (across from the Monroe County Public Library)   Reserved spaces in Lot 5 are for permit holders only.

Lot 6 - E. 3rd Street and Washington Street (behind the Bloomington Police Department)

 

Free 2 Hour On-Street Parking:

Rogers Street from 5th to 11th 

Washington Street from 2nd to 3rd

Lincoln Street from 3rd to Smith

Free 24/7 On-Street Parking:

Grant Street from 2nd to Smith

Madison Street from 2nd to 3rd