Stop circling. Start Parking.
UA Parking Services has launched Crimson Park, a free mobile app designed to help users find available parking in real time. Using location services and crowd-sourced data, the app updates as spaces open and guides drivers to open spots across campus.
Crimson Park uses ParkZen’s smart crowdsourcing technology to help you quickly find available parking on campus, navigate to the best spots for your permit, and keep track of your car— all while contributing to a community-powered parking network, just like Waze for parking.
Users who choose to set up a parking profile in the app can receive additional features based on their specific permit. This optional feature allows Crimson Park to display space availability by zone, send alerts if a user parks in the wrong zone and help locate their vehicle later.
Important things to know about Crimson Park:
- Always allow location services for the most accurate results.
- If you don’t have the option to select “Always Allow” for location services, select “Allow Once” and you will be prompted to change to “Always Allow” after.
- The more people who download and set up the app, the more accurate the service becomes— so be sure to share with your friends and colleagues!
Special features inside Crimson Park
Setting up your parking profile in the app with your designated parking pass will allow the app to:
- Show availability in your assigned zone
- Notify you if you are parked in the wrong zone
- Help you locate your vehicle
Note: You do not have to enter your license plate information during profile setup for these features to work— just your parking pass designation!
Crimson Park is available and free to download from the App Store or Google Play.
Crimson Park FAQs
How does Crimson Park work?
Crimson Park anonymously detects when you park or leave a space using:
- Location Services (set to "Always Allow")
- Motion & Fitness permissions
The app then updates parking availability in real time, so all faculty, staff and students benefit. The more people use it, the more accurate it becomes.
Why does the app need "Always Allow" Location and Fitness Permissions?
These settings allow the app to:
- Seamlessly detect when you park or leave (no manual check-in required)
- Automatically save your car's location for easy navigation back
- Send alerts about potential parking violations or restrictions
- Provide real-time parking availability to the UA community
Note: Detection happens only within UA campus parking areas.
How is my privacy protected?
Your privacy is a top priority:
- No personal data is shared with anyone.
- Only anonymous parking events are used to estimate availability.
- Your individual parked car location is never shared.
- Data is stored securely and used solely to improve campus parking.
How can I make the app more accurate for everyone?
- Keep Location and Motion & Fitness permissions set to "Always Allow".
- Use the app every time you park on campus.
- Encourage friends, classmates and colleagues to install and use the app— more users = better accuracy!
How do I set my Parking Profile for the best results?
- Go to Profile -> Parking Profile
- Select your parking permit type
- The app will now only show lots you're eligible to park in.
You can also:
- "Heart" a parking lot to save it as a favorite
- Filter to only see your favorite parking lots under Parking Profile
How do I find parking quickly?
- Tap "Park Nearby" to instantly get directions to the best possible parking area near you.
- The app uses real-time occupancy data and your permit/favorites to route you.
- Navigation works with Apple Maps or Google Maps.
How can I look up information about a specific parking lot?
- Search or scroll the campus map.
- Tap the lot marker for details (availability, type and restrictions).
- Tap the heart icon to add it to your Favorites for quick access later.
Can the app help me avoid tickets or violations?
Yes!
If you enable Always Allow location:
- Crimson Park will automatically save your parking spot.
- It can send alerts about parking restrictions, events or enforcement activity that may affect your space.
Can I share my parking experience?
Absolutely!
After selecting a lot, tap “Feedback” to rate your recent parking experience or report any issues. Your input helps improve parking services for everyone.
How is this like Waze for parking?
Just like Waze is powered by drivers sharing real-time traffic data, Crimson Park is powered by students, staff and visitors sharing real-time parking availability — automatically, anonymously, and for the benefit of everyone.