New way to pay for parking at Horsetooth Reservoir
Larimer County Department of Natural Resources (LCDNR) is pleased to pilot a new way visitors can pay for daily permit parking at parks and open spaces through the convenience of their phones. The phone-based "Text2Park" payment system launched at select Horsetooth area parking lots on Oct. 26 with the aim of expanding to other LCDNR public properties throughout the coming year.
Visitors at Horsetooth's Satanka Bay, Skyline, Sunrise and Rotary parking lots are now able to scan a posted QR code to pay for day-use parking through their phones.
The Text2Park system will not replace current self-serve payment machines that accept debit and credit cards. Rather they will offer one more convenient payment option for those who prefer to pay through phone.
While parking lots on the east, north and south sides of Horsetooth Reservoir area will serve as the first pilot sites, the county aims to launch the Text2Park system in another 25 parks and open spaces, such as Carter Lake and Horsetooth Mountain Open Space, throughout the coming year.
The remote location of county parks and open spaces typically presents a challenge to adopting cellular-based payment systems, but the county is working around this by installing mobile hot spots to assist with connections.
Once Text2Park systems are installed, visitors will still be able to choose from several payment methods, including the self-serve pay stations in each lot or by purchasing permits at gatehouses or visitor centers. They can also display an annual permit, which can be purchased at visitor centers or ordered online through this link: [log in for link]
Currently, parking permits are required at Carter Lake, Flatiron, Pinewood and Horsetooth reservoirs, Blue Sky Trailhead, Horsetooth Mountain Open Space (including Soderberg Trailhead), Ramsay-Shockey Open Space, Hermit Park Open Space, and Devil's Backbone Open Space.
Citations will continue to be issued for all vehicles that do not have a permit purchased through the Text2Park system or a visible permit or dashboard receipt displayed in their lower inside passenger dash window.
Revenue generated from parking and entrance fees goes directly back into Larimer County parks and open spaces to cover operating expenses (trash collection, restroom supplies, picnic tables, etc.) and personnel expenses (rangers and maintenance staff out on the parks and open spaces).
Visitors at Horsetooth's Satanka Bay, Skyline, Sunrise and Rotary parking lots are now able to scan a posted QR code to pay for day-use parking through their phones.
The Text2Park system will not replace current self-serve payment machines that accept debit and credit cards. Rather they will offer one more convenient payment option for those who prefer to pay through phone.
While parking lots on the east, north and south sides of Horsetooth Reservoir area will serve as the first pilot sites, the county aims to launch the Text2Park system in another 25 parks and open spaces, such as Carter Lake and Horsetooth Mountain Open Space, throughout the coming year.
The remote location of county parks and open spaces typically presents a challenge to adopting cellular-based payment systems, but the county is working around this by installing mobile hot spots to assist with connections.
Once Text2Park systems are installed, visitors will still be able to choose from several payment methods, including the self-serve pay stations in each lot or by purchasing permits at gatehouses or visitor centers. They can also display an annual permit, which can be purchased at visitor centers or ordered online through this link: [log in for link]
Currently, parking permits are required at Carter Lake, Flatiron, Pinewood and Horsetooth reservoirs, Blue Sky Trailhead, Horsetooth Mountain Open Space (including Soderberg Trailhead), Ramsay-Shockey Open Space, Hermit Park Open Space, and Devil's Backbone Open Space.
Citations will continue to be issued for all vehicles that do not have a permit purchased through the Text2Park system or a visible permit or dashboard receipt displayed in their lower inside passenger dash window.
Revenue generated from parking and entrance fees goes directly back into Larimer County parks and open spaces to cover operating expenses (trash collection, restroom supplies, picnic tables, etc.) and personnel expenses (rangers and maintenance staff out on the parks and open spaces).
Comments
by: Fish9
11.08.24 1:27 PM
This is interesting. Wonder if the mobile hot spots will improve cell coverage out on the lake