Oklahoma City, Home To The First Parking Meter, Turns to Parkeon

Moorestown, NJ, June 28, 2012 – Way back in 1935 in downtown Oklahoma City, the first parking meter in history was installed. Invented by Oklahoma City resident Carl Magee, to help reduce parking problems due to the flood of cars in the country at that time, those meters charged a nickel for anywhere between 15 minutes and 1 hour. Well, times have changed and the parking meter has evolved. Oklahoma City has started to install Parkeon multi-space meters throughout the downtown area, replacing many of the standard single space meters the City has known so well.

While the first parking meters were mechanical, needing a twist of the wrist to turn the dial, Oklahoma City’s new Parkeon meters are solar powered, accept both coins and credit cards, have a large display screen, are operated by an intelligent main board, and are connected wirelessly via cellular modem to a sophisticated back office system for reporting and alerts. All of this new technology means a more user friendly experience for the parking public, as well as greater efficiency for the parking department.

Oklahoma City selected Parkeon over four other multi-space meter vendors in a competitive bid process. Parkeon provided good value, the right mix of technologies, and pleasing meter aesthetics to meet the City’s needs. The City will be installing 125 Strada Pay Stations in Pay & Display configuration. With its small footprint and sleek look, the Strada fits perfectly into Oklahoma City’s Project 180 initiative, a four year, $160 million redesign of downtown streets, sidewalks, parks, and plazas. Project 180, named so because it will transform 180 acres of the downtown, will improve the City’s appearance and make the central core more pedestrian friendly.

“We are extremely pleased that Parkeon has been awarded this significant project, and that we have been given the opportunity to help improve the overall look and feel downtown,” said Christopher Octon, President of Parkeon’s US operations. “We pride ourselves in being able to manage deployments in large cities such as Oklahoma City and we look forward to a long and fruitful partnership.”

Parkeon Press Contact:
Sean Renn
40 Twosome Dr, Suite 7
Moorestown, NJ 08057
(856) 234-8000
srenn@parkeon.com