About this Location

Facility Overview

The parking facility at 2100 E Evergreen Drive in Appleton, Wisconsin, officially recognized as WisDOT Park & Ride 44-02 (often referred to locally as the Ballard Park and Ride), serves as a vital intermodal transportation asset on Appleton's bustling northeast side. This well-maintained, open-air surface lot offers 142 designated vehicle parking stalls laid out across smooth, high-grade asphalt. Because it is a completely unobstructed surface lot without overhead barriers, height restrictions, or low-clearance parking garage ceilings, it readily accommodates standard passenger sedans, crossovers, full-size pickup trucks, and high-profile passenger vans. WisDOT regulations permit personal passenger vehicles and light utility vehicles up to 8,000 lbs gross weight, making it exceptionally spacious for full-size pickups and SUVs while prohibiting detached trailers and heavy commercial tractor-trailers.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Situated immediately off the junction of Interstate 41 (US-41) and County Highway E (Ballard Road), the facility offers an advantageous staging ground for regional travelers, local commuters, and sports fans. A short drive connects motorists to major cultural and sporting destinations across the Fox Cities region:

Downtown Appleton & College Avenue: Located approximately 4 miles (about a 10-minute drive) southwest, featuring the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center (PAC), Houdini Plaza, and Lawrence University.
USA Youth Sports Complex: Less than 2 miles north along Ballard Road, making this location a favorite staging and carpooling hub for visiting youth soccer, baseball, and softball tournaments.
Fox Cities Stadium (Neuroscience Group Field): Home to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Milwaukee Brewers High-A affiliate), situated approximately 6.5 miles southwest directly down the I-41 corridor.
Appleton Medical & Commercial District: Moments away from major healthcare campuses along Evergreen Drive and Ballard Road, including the Children's Wisconsin Appleton Clinic and ThedaCare facilities.
Lambeau Field & Green Bay: Conveniently located on the northern side of Appleton, this lot provides an effortless carpool starting point heading north up I-41 to Lambeau Field in Green Bay, located just 26 miles (roughly 25 minutes) away.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Ingress and egress are straightforward yet have dedicated traffic patterns designed for safety. Drivers arriving via Interstate 41 exit onto County Road E (Ballard Road) heading north, then turn east onto Evergreen Drive. The primary entrance from Evergreen Drive functions as a right-in entryway. When exiting the lot, motorists utilize Gateway Court to seamlessly connect to Gateway Drive, enabling hassle-free westward movement back to Evergreen Drive and the Ballard Road highway ramps.

Public transit and multi-modal travel are central to the facility's design. The lot is serviced by regional commuter initiatives including Valley Transit connector routes and WisDOT's RIDESHARE carpooling network. Furthermore, the property connects directly into Appleton's municipal pedestrian and bicycle path network, complete with dedicated on-site bicycle parking.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

142 Paved Stalls: Clean, striped, open-air surface parking for standard vehicles and light trucks.
100% Free Public Parking: Zero parking fees, permits, or meter charges required for commuter and carpool usage.
ADA Accessible Stalls: Dedicated handicap-accessible bays with curb-cut ramps adjacent to the main access sidewalk.
Overnight Stays Allowed: Free overnight and weekend parking permitted, up to a maximum continuous duration of 7 days (1 week).
Overhead Illumination: High-mast dusk-to-dawn security lighting across the entire lot for night visibility and passenger comfort.
Bicycle Facilities: Heavy-duty on-site bike racks accommodating up to 11 bicycles for multi-modal commuters.
No Height Restrictions: Open-sky headroom allows tall roof racks, ladders, and high-top passenger vans without structural clearance concerns.

Ideal For

Interstate Carpoolers & Commuters: Fox Valley residents sharing rides south toward Oshkosh and Milwaukee or north toward Green Bay.
Game-Day Packers Fans: An ideal gathering spot to consolidate vehicles and tailgate equipment before heading north up I-41 toward Lambeau Field.
Youth Sports Families: Weekend tourney participants coordinating transportation to games at nearby USA Youth Sports Complex.
Multi-Day Travelers: Drivers traveling out of town via shared carpools who need safe, legal parking for up to 7 consecutive days.
Local Cyclists & Pedestrians: Trail riders using the lot as a staging base for Appleton's recreational pathway network.

Visitor & Driver Tips

While the lot is completely free to use without advance reservation or ticketing apps, it can reach peak occupancy on weekday mornings during commute hours and on Green Bay home game Sundays. Drivers planning to leave their vehicles for multiple days must observe the strict 7-day maximum continuous parking limit; vehicles parked longer may be tagged or towed under state highway statutes. Heavy commercial vehicles exceeding 8,000 lbs, campers, detached boat trailers, and utility haulers are prohibited from overnight stays. For seamless departure during busy evening rush hours, follow directional signs along Gateway Court rather than attempting tight turns onto Evergreen Drive.