Bluegrass and bourbon better make room, because the City of Lexington’s got a new claim to fame: easy downtown parking. As the result of a recent partnership between the Lexington Parking Authority (LEXPARK) and leading online parking reservations platform SpotHero, Lexington visitors and residents can pre-book parking at LEXPARK garages on LEXPARK’s website or via the SpotHero mobile app and online interface. By implementing SpotHero’s easy-to-use solution for off-street parking reservations, the Parking Authority aims to mitigate congestion, confusion and frustration for city center drivers.

Being able to lock in a downtown parking spot before leaving the house benefits all drivers, especially UK fans who attend home games. Driving is now a viable transportation option to major venues like Rupp Arena, Lexington Center and the Lexington Opera House because visitors can secure affordable, convenient parking ahead of time. This transforms parking from an afterthought to part of the end-to-end event experience, the logistics of which have moved online – like buying tickets, making dinner reservations, and scouting local spots to check out before or after.

The City of Lexington has a proven track record of prioritizing smart transportation initiatives, with twin goals of providing residents and visitors with high-quality, customer-focused transportation options and encouraging economic growth for local businesses. LEXPARK adding off-street parking reservations to their smart transportation roster helps further these missions: when it’s easier for downtown visitors to choose the transportation option that gives them the most flexibility and control, they’re motivated to spend more time not only at venues but nearby retail establishments.

This partnership is significant for SpotHero because it marks the company’s first direct arrangement with a municipality. It builds out its existing municipal division which includes the City of Sacramento, where SpotHero has offered online parking reservation benefits to visitors and residents since acquiring Parking Panda in April 2017. With LEXPARK’s adoption of their online reservation platform, SpotHero furthers their mission of making off-street parking facilities accessible via mobile and online reservations to drivers in cities all over North America.