Members of Media-Interview opportunities will be available beginning Monday October 3. Thank you!

Contact: Vanessa Rogers Cedar Rapids Downtown District 319.398.0449 Vanessa@downtowncr.org [cid:image001.jpg@01CC7EBA.DEA4C960] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE___________________________________________________________

Launch of Park Cedar Rapids to Feature New Parking Technology

September 29, 2011-Cedar Rapids, Iowa- The Cedar Rapids Downtown District invites community members and media to attend a press conference announcing the official launch of “Park Cedar Rapids” on Monday, October 10 at 1:30 p.m. in Greene Square Park.

The press conference will detail progress on a variety of parking initiatives, including new communication tools for patron convenience such as prominent on street signage, a new website www.parkcedarrapids.com and the launch of the new “LUKE” multi-space parking meter pay stations.

The new LUKE pay stations will offer a variety of payment options including coin, credit and debit cards. Named LUKE by the manufacturer, Digital Payment Technologies, the new meters are completely solar powered and will also allow parking patrons the option of paying for parking directly from their cell phones or via smart phone application. Rather than having an individual coin-only meter at each space, parking patrons will see numbered signs and instructions directing them to the nearest LUKE pay station when they pull up to the curb. There will be approximately one LUKE pay station on each side of the street per block. The pay stations will be marked with the new Park Cedar Rapids logo and with the wording “Pay Here.”

Some traditional coin-only meters will remain in downtown in areas where there are not enough spaces to justify a multi-space LUKE pay station or in spaces designated for handicapped parking. Park Cedar Rapids staff is reviewing technologies to enhance the payment options at those spaces, with a likely transition to single space credit/debit card enabled meters in 2012. In the weeks following the launch of the new LUKE pay station, Park Cedar Rapids staff will be on the street to assist parking patrons.

The LUKE meters, signage and public education materials were all paid for by parking revenue.

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About Park Cedar Rapids Park Cedar Rapids is an organization committed to providing a positive parking experience for patrons of downtown Cedar Rapids. Let Park Cedar Rapids help you plan your next trip downtown by visiting www.crparking.org.