Facility Overview

Harris Riverfront Park Parking serves as the primary automotive gateway to Huntington, West Virginia’s flagship riverfront parkland along the southern bank of the Ohio River. Located at the junction of 10th Street and Veterans Memorial Boulevard (US Route 60), the parking facility is situated directly behind the historic city floodwall. The facility consists of ground-level, open-air asphalt surface lots seamlessly integrated into the park’s recreational layout. Because the parking area is entirely open to the sky with no overhead decks, low ceiling beams, or parking garage clearance bars, it offers virtually unlimited vertical clearance. This makes the lot exceptionally accommodating for standard passenger cars, full-size pickup trucks, large SUVs, high-roof passenger and conversion vans, vehicles with roof racks or mountain bikes, and boat trailers towing watercraft to the adjacent municipal boat ramp.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Positioned along the vibrant Ohio River shoreline, this parking destination offers unrivaled proximity to Huntington’s premier natural and cultural venues. The lot provides immediate access to the park’s signature amenities, including the Harris Riverfront Amphitheater, children’s playground, public skate park, and the scenic Paul Ambrose Trail for Health (PATH). Beyond the floodwall, visitors are within short walking distance of central downtown Huntington:

• Pullman Square: Located just a 3- to 5-minute walk (approx. 0.2 miles) south across Veterans Memorial Boulevard, featuring dining, retail boutiques, coffee shops, and Marquee Cinemas.
• Mountain Health Arena: Huntington’s premier sports and entertainment venue hosting major concerts, family shows, and conventions, situated approximately 0.4 miles (an 8-minute walk) to the southwest.
• Heritage Station: A restored 19th-century railway depot housing artisanal shops, craft beverage taprooms, and the Greater Huntington Park & Recreation District visitor center, just a 5-minute walk away.
• Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center: The historic downtown showplace for Broadway tours and symphony orchestra performances, located roughly 0.5 miles (a 10-minute walk) south along 4th Avenue.
• Marshall University Visual Arts Center: Situated along 9th Street just a 5-minute stroll away, with the primary Marshall University academic and athletic campus located about 1.5 miles east down 3rd and 5th Avenues.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Accessing the parking area is straightforward via Veterans Memorial Boulevard (US Route 60). Motorists enter the park grounds by driving north through the designated floodwall portal cutouts at 10th Street, with secondary roadway movement leading toward 12th Street. Exiting traffic flows back onto Veterans Memorial Boulevard, allowing rapid connections east toward Marshall University and Interstate 64 (Exit 11 via Hal Greer Boulevard), or west toward US Route 52 and the bridges connecting West Virginia to Ohio. For public transportation users, the central downtown transit hubs of the Tri-State Transit Authority (TSTA) operate along 3rd and 4th Avenues within comfortable walking distance, connecting riders to routes serving the entire Huntington-Ashland-Ironton tri-state area.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

• Open-Air Surface Parking: Level asphalt bays offering unobstructed clearance for large vehicles, recreational trucks, and boat haulers.
• Accessible Parking: Designated ADA-compliant parking stalls located nearest to the paved riverside walkways and park amenities.
• Direct Trail & River Access: Immediate connectivity to the paved Paul Ambrose Trail for Health (PATH) multi-use recreation loop and the Ohio River boat ramp.
• Perimeter Lighting: Nighttime illumination throughout parking stalls and pedestrian walkways during active park operating hours.
• Public Restroom Proximity: Located adjacent to seasonal park restroom facilities and riverfront observation benches.
• Complimentary Visitor Parking: Free day-use parking provided by the Greater Huntington Park & Recreation District for public park guests.

Ideal For

• Recreation Enthusiasts: Walkers, joggers, and cyclists taking advantage of the riverfront trail system and outdoor exercise zones.
• Boaters & Fishermen: Anglers and recreational boaters trailering watercraft to the public boat launch ramp.
• Amphitheater Concertgoers: Visitors attending seasonal outdoor concerts, movie nights, community rallies, and live music performances.
• Downtown Diners & Shoppers: Drivers seeking convenient, open parking before walking into Pullman Square or Heritage Station.
• Arena & Theater Patrons: Cost-conscious visitors attending events at Mountain Health Arena or the Keith-Albee Theatre looking for easy walking-distance parking.

Visitor & Driver Tips

Harris Riverfront Park is generally open daily between 8:00 AM and 11:00 PM, and overnight parking is strictly prohibited. GHPRD and the Huntington Municipal Parking Board actively enforce local parking regulations; parking on the grass, blocking the boat ramp access road, or idling along yellow emergency curbs will result in citations or towing. During major regional community gatherings—such as the annual Dawg Dazzle 4th of July celebration, the Rails & Ales Festival, or riverfront rib cook-offs—vehicle access into the park lots may be closed to general traffic or restricted solely to event production and handicap permits. During these marquee event days, plan to arrive early and utilize nearby downtown parking structures, including the Pullman Square garages or the 8th Street parking deck. Lastly, be mindful of seasonal weather conditions: as the facility is located within the Ohio River floodplain outside the protective levee wall, vehicle access gates may be temporarily sealed during high-water stages or major river flooding.