The WeHa Parking Finder will help drivers identify the closest parking spots to their planned destination in either West Hartford Center or Blue Back Square.

Intersection of LaSalle Road and Farmington Avenue in West Hartford Center. Photo credit: Ronni Newton (we-ha.com file photo)

By Ronni Newton

While visitors to West Hartford Center or Blue Back Square may hope to snag an on-street parking space right in front of their planned destination, that’s not likely to happen every time, and the town launched a new program on Jan. 7, WeHa Parking Finder, which will help drivers not only plan their parking options in advance, but can also be used to pay for their parking.

“Right now our goal is to inform motorists of what are the options,” said Brooke Nelson, the operations manager for West Hartford’s municipal parking. “It’s really a planning option,” she said.

Between West Hartford Center and Blue Back Square, three are more than 5,000 parking spots available on the street, as well as in municipal surface lots and garages and private lots and garages. “Many visitors may not realize that off-street availability is often just around the corner,” the town said in the announcement of WeHa Parking Finder. It’s intended to help avoid the tendency to keep circling the block hoping to snag an on-street space, and also identifies ADA parking, Electric Vehicle charging stations, and pick-up and drop-off sites.

WeHa Parking Finder screenshot

WeHa Parking finder, which was developed in partnership with Modii, includes the terms and conditions for parking, and also links directly to the Flowbird and Passport parking applications. Those who have accounts set up through those applications will be able to access them directly and pay for parking directly through WeHa Parking Finder.

“Hopefully it will serve as a single port for parking,” Nelson said. While WeHa Parking Finder can’t identify if spots are open in a particular parking lot or garage since there are not cameras or sensors everywhere to record that information, it will help visitors be aware of all of the nearby parking options when planning a trip to a restaurant, store, or other business in the Center or Blue Back Square.

WeHa Parking Finder can be accessed through the Town of West Hartford’s website – on the homepage as well as the Parking Division’s webpage – and can also be added to the home screen of both Apple and Android devices.

As the town prepares for several years of construction, first on LaSalle Road beginning this spring and then in 2026 on Farmington Avenue as the West Hartford Center Infrastructure Master Plan is implemented, on street parking will be disrupted and even access to certain lots may temporarily be in flux.

The WeHa Parking Finder will be updated regularly to indicate road closures, whether due to large events such as parades or construction projects.

The program, the town said, is part of West Hartford’s “commitment to safe, healthy, and equitable mobility for all users.”

A 30-second video demonstration of a visitor searching for the nearest parking to a specific destination can be found on the Municipal Parking webpage, as well as by clicking on this link.

To add WeHa Parking Finder to your smartphone’s Home Screen, scan the below QR code. The town has also provided instructions for adding it to your device.

WeHa Parking Finder QR code

For iOS-

1. Open Safari and go to the WeHa Parking Finder
2. Tap the share button and select “Add to Home Screen”
3. Name the website shortcut WeHa Parking Finder

For Android –

1. Open Chrome and go to the WeHa Parking Finder
2. Tap the menu icon and select “Add to Home Screen”
3. Name the website shortcut WeHa Parking Finder

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