by Hadley Barndollar, New Hampshire Bulletin

With warmer weather not far around the bend, on April 1, the state Division of Parks and Recreation will launch an enhanced parking program for its metered lots along the Seacoast.

It’s an easier way to pay for parking, the division says, in an area that’s flooded with tourists and locals alike come summer. The new system will offer two pay-by-phone mobile application options via ParkMobile and Park Smarter, as well as a pay-by-plate system at the pay stations. Visitors will no longer need to display a parking receipt on their vehicle dashboard. 

Beachgoers will also be able to add additional time to their parking spot right from the sand via their phones. 

“This ultimately saves time for our visitors, giving them more time to enjoy our gorgeous Seacoast state parks,” Brian Wilson, director of the Division of Parks and Recreation, said in a statement. “The drive behind this initiative is simple. We wanted to make our parking system smarter and easier, while providing more convenient payment options for our visitors.”

The Seacoast’s state parks charge for parking annually between April 1 and Oct. 31. They include Wallis Sands, Rye Harbor, Odiorne Point, Jenness Beach, North Hampton State Beach, North Beach, and Hampton Beach. Wallis Sands and Odiorne Point do not have metered parking and instead have different fees collected at entry. 

Park staff will be available for assistance as the new system is introduced. For more information, visit nhstateparks.org.

This story was written by Hadley Barndollar, a reporter at the New Hampshire Bulletin, where this story first appeared.

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