Save your coins: paying for parking in Clearwater Beach and downtown Clearwater just got easier.

The City of Clearwater is introducing a mobile app to allow visitors to pay for parking with their cell phone.

The program, called Parkmobile, lets users pay for parking, add additional time and get alerts when their parking time is about to run out. Similar programs are in use in Tampa and St. Petersburg.

Meter readers will check license plates on special wireless devices to tell if a visitor's parking time has expired yet.

“Clearwater is one of the country’s most popular beach destinations, and tens of thousands of visitors come to our city and its beautiful beaches each year,” said Clearwater Mayor George N. Cretekos. “With the Parkmobile technology, Clearwater is making paying parking fees on its beach and downtown areas easier and more convenient.”

The app is free for Parkmobile basic members but there is a $.35 cent convenience fee for every transaction. However, if they are residents of Clearwater, the transaction fee is waived.



But old-school visitors not up to date with technology can still park and pay the old-fashioned way. Parking meters that are coin-operated will remain on site downtown and along the beaches.

The new way to pay begins July 9th.