The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board offers many options for parking throughout the parks system. Pay parking areas are in regional park lots, on-street meters on parkways, contract lots, and event parking. There are many free parking lots (including neighborhood parks) and bays on parkways throughout Minneapolis. The links below provide information on specific areas of our parking services to meet all of our park patrons needs. For areas of parking, how to use our pay parking terminals, and ADA accessibility policies, please see below on this page.

Pay Parking is enforced in pay lots and on-street meters daily, including holidays. Please note that Minneapolis Park and Recreation board pay parking regulations may differ from other municipal entities for holidays and hours of pay parking.

Accessible Parking

Off-Street

During park hours, visitors with either handicap plates or placard (hang tag) are encouraged to park in the designated handicap parking stalls. If these spaces are unavailable, you may park in any space at no charge. Annual Patron Parking Permits may be purchased, but are not required.

On-Street

During park hours, visitors with either handicap plates or placard (hang tag) may park at any parking lot meter or on-street meter at no charge.

The parking parking meter would not accept my payment, what should I do?

Please report a meter issue using the online form on this page.

I received a citation, what are my options?

See the Tickets & Citations page for more information.

What is an Annual Patron Parking Permit?

Permit provides year-round parking privileges at all designated regional Patron Parking lots.

More Information

Can I use my Annual Patron Parking Permit at on-street metered spaces?

No. Annual Patron Parking Permit is only valid in parking lots. Refer to posted signage for restrictions.

Can I purchase my parking in advance?

At this time we do not offer advanced payment of parking for our on-street parking parking meters or in pay lots, with the exception of reserved parking for private events.

Do I have to pay for parking if I reserved an event space?

Parking for private events that require the use of a pay lot is arranged when you make your event reservation through Use and Event Permitting.

Do the parking parking meters accept credit cards?

All multi-space on-street parking parking meters accept coin or credit card(Visa, Master Card, American Express); single space parking parking meters on West River Road and East River Road only accept coins.

Are parking lots closed overnight or for the season?

Most parking lots are open year round for use during park hours: 6 am-midnight in developed areas and 6 am-10pm in undeveloped areas

  •  Thomas Beach parking lot at Bde Maka Ska is closed by gate overnight and for winter weather
  • Parking lots not plowed during the winter:
    • Bde Maka Ska Thomas Beach lot
    • 2125 E. Minnehaha Parkway

Pay by Phone

  • To pay your parking at one of our on-street parking meters, please download the MPLSParking or Flowbird app from the App Store or Google Play (also available for Windows, Blackberry, and Amazon based devices).
  • Create your free account linked to an email address, vehicle license plate (you can add more than one!), and a credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover).
  • Enter your space or parking lot number (5 digit number beginning with 9  (on-street) or 99 (surface lot)
  • Select parking duration from the list
  • Confirm and pay for your space with the credit card registered to your app

For more information please check out this how-to guide from Flowbird.

Tailgating at East River Flats

For the Fall Gopher Football season, parking will be allowed in the parking lot only. MPRB Maintenance staff have installed bollards and placed rocks as part of our approved plan to prevent vehicle traffic in the grass. Standard activities associated with Tailgating will be allowed, though no MPRB staff will be on site. Parking is first come – first serve, with payment via the Pay Station (coin/credit card) or the MplsParking/Flowbird apps (no cash payments).

The MPRB has an approved plan for permitting tailgating independently of parking (single game or season pass options). Follow the link if you’d like more information regrading the program or to purchase tailgating tickets online.