KENNEBUNK — Beachgoers in Kennebunk will be able to park — and tan — easier, this summer, as the town has announced it has teamed up with mobile application PassportParking to allow residents to pay for parking without having to leave their beach towels.
 
Passport, which says it is the industry leader in mobile payments for parking and transit, has been adopted by more than 300 agencies in over 3,000 locations across the world, including Chicago, Toronto and Boston.
 
The app’s mission is to, “reduce operational complexity and deliver intelligent data to improve decision making for its clients,” according to a release issued by the Kennebunk Police Department earlier this week.
 
Now in Kennebunk, the mobile app will be available at about 250 parking spaces, including off-street and beach-front parking. Typically in these spaces, beachgoers would either need to buy daily, weekly or seasonal passes, or pay at meters in the lots.
 
Now, users of PassportParking can purchase those daily, weekly and even seasonal passes through the app. Seasonal beach parking passes are available now through September 15.
 
Police officers lauded the app’s implementation.

“This type of technology is the perfect fit for our community,” Lt. Eric O’Brien, patrol commander for the Kennebunk Police Department, said in a release. “Drivers will really enjoy the convenience of this application this beach season.” 

O’Brien said Wednesday the town only has a handful of parking kiosks at its beach parking areas, and that this new system will make things easier for everyone.

“We’re just trying to make things a little more convenient for visitors,” he said of the service. “We’re just trying to streamline things and … bring things into the 21st Century.”

He also said the service, since it’s paperless, will allow people to pay parking tickets online or through the app, reducing paper waste and making the experience somewhat less of a hassle.

April Dickerson, project manager at Passport, agreed it will make things easier for those wishing to catch some sun and surf.
 
“We’re very excited to bring our mobile parking solution to Kennebunk,” Dickerson said. “We’re proud to provide a solution that brings a more convenient and innovative option to pay for parking to the community.”

Parking payments through the application will be available at Middle, Mother’s and Gooch’s Beaches along Beach Avenue, off Routes 9 and 35.

The PassportParking app is free to download through the Apple App Store and Google Play. Users can make accounts through their mobile phone numbers, email addresses or Facebook accounts.
 
Once parked, users must enter a “zone number” given to each parking location, followed by a “space” number. Once registered, they have the option to select how long they wish to remain parked.
Users can also manage their parking online at ppprk.com.
 
O’Brien said the move is a step forward for the community, and a way to make things easier in the popular summer tourist destination.
 
“(Passport is) quick to use and much easier to pay for a parking pass,” he said. “By partnering with Passport, we are able to provide our town with a simple and convenient way to handle the parking experience.”
 
— Staff Writer Alan Bennett can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 329 or abennett@journaltribune.com.