After a low-key first half showing, Parkinson saw his troops fight back after the restart to earn a creditable draw from their visit to the Lamex Stadium thanks to a delightful free-kick from Kyel Reid.
Reid's goal three minutes after the restart came during an improved second period performance by Parkinson's men.
Speaking after the match, Parkinson was clearly disappointed by his side's early showing in the game but also encouraged by the desire and effort City showed to drag themselves back in the game after the half-time break.
Parkinson said: "It was a tough game today (Saturday). Stevenage make it tough for you.
"They didn't surprise us by the way they played - we knew what to expect - but there was just a lacklustre nature to our performance in the first half. We certainly weren't at our best. We weren't physical enough and we weren't on our front-foot.
"We responded really well in the second half though.
"The reaction of the team in that second forty-five was excellent. It is a tough play to come here, just part of a tough league that we're in, and on the day we'll take this point.
"It keeps our points tally ticking over.
"After losing our last away game at Port Vale, it was important that we got something here.
"It sets us up nicely, I feel, going into Hartlepool away in the Johnstone's Paint (Trophy) on Tuesday and then the home games on Saturday (against Brentford)."
Point-earner Reid was making his first league start of the season when he netted City's equaliser shortly after the restart.
Parkinson was glad to see the winger, who replaced Mark Yeates in the starting eleven, take his opportunity to make a mark.
The City chief added: "He (Kyel) has been training exceptionally well recently and he has deserved his chance.
"He's been scoring goals in training, he's been looking sharp, and he's shown a great reaction despite not being in the team the early part of this season.
"On the flip side with Mark Yeates, he's just been having that problem with his knee and he has missed a bit of training because of it.
"I just felt it was time for Reidy to be given a chance and he took it well."