Facility Overview

Situated along East Poe Road on the northern perimeter of the Bowling Green State University (BGSU) campus in Bowling Green, Ohio, Lot 12 is one of the university's primary outdoor parking facilities. Laid out as an expansive, single-level open-air surface lot, it offers hundreds of paved, neatly lined vehicle stalls connected by wide two-way circulation aisles. Due to its sprawling open-sky design, Lot 12 features no vertical height limits or overhead clearance barriers. This makes it an ideal parking solution not only for compact sedans and crossover SUVs, but also for lifted pickup trucks, full-size cargo vans, rooftop bike or ski carriers, and mid-sized commercial or utility vehicles that cannot safely enter standard multi-story parking garages.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Lot 12 provides a strategic arrival point for athletic venues, campus academic buildings, and aviation facilities:

• Perry Field House: Located immediately adjacent to the lot, hosting collegiate track and field competitions, intramural leagues, and community recreation events.
• BGSU Baseball and Softball Complexes: Directly across from Warren E. Steller Field and Meserve Field, making it the most convenient parking area for Falcon baseball and softball game days.
• Slater Family Ice Arena: Situated just a 5- to 7-minute walk south (approx. 0.3 miles), perfect for Falcon hockey matches and figure skating events.
• Doyt L. Perry Stadium: Positioned about an 8- to 10-minute stroll to the east along Poe Road, serving as a key parking hub for Falcon football Saturdays.
• BG Flight Center & Wood County Airport: Positioned just northwest along East Poe Road, ideal for aviation flight students and university visitors.
• Central Campus & Residence Halls: Walking access to North Campus student living centers including Offenhauer Towers and McDonald Hall, as well as the Jerome Library and Wolfe Center for the Arts.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Entering and exiting Lot 12 is straightforward, with broad curb cuts and dedicated ingress/egress points directly off East Poe Road as well as connecting internal lanes linking to Willard Drive and Mercer Road. Post-event traffic clears efficiently onto Poe Road, providing direct east-west movement across northern Bowling Green. Commuters have quick access to Interstate 75 (via Exit 181 at State Route 64/Wooster Street or the Poe Road overpass corridors) and North Main Street (State Route 25), connecting seamlessly to Toledo and Findlay. On-site transit connectivity is exceptional: Lot 12 hosts a dedicated station for BGSU's Falcon Commute campus shuttle system, offering frequent, free transit routes that transport students and visitors across campus, to the Bowen-Thompson Student Union, and into downtown Bowling Green.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

• Expansive Open-Air Parking: Large surface lot layout accommodating hundreds of standard and oversized vehicles without overhead height constraints.
• Mobile App Payments: Convenient hourly and daily visitor payment processing through mobile apps including PayByPhone and AMP.
• Falcon Commute Shuttle Hub: Direct boarding access for university shuttle routes connecting all major campus hubs.
• ADA Accessibility: Dedicated accessible parking bays clearly demarcated near primary pedestrian walkways and shuttle boarding points.
• High-Visibility Lighting: Tall overhead LED illumination providing clear visibility and peace of mind across all parking bays after dark.
• Campus Safety Patrols: Monitored regularly by the Bowling Green State University Police Department and equipped with nearby emergency campus call stations.

Ideal For

• Falcon Sports Fans: Spectators attending home competitions at Perry Field House, Steller Field, Keefe Tennis Courts, or Slater Family Ice Arena.
• BGSU Students & Faculty: Resident and commuter permit holders attending lectures, labs, or residing in northern campus residence halls.
• Aviation Majors & Airport Visitors: Flight students and visitors accessing the BG Flight Center on East Poe Road.
• Weekend Campus Guests: Families visiting students, touring campus facilities, or attending student showcases and athletic tournaments.

Visitor & Driver Tips

BGSU operates a virtual permit enforcement system relying on License Plate Recognition (LPR) technology. Because your license plate acts as your parking permit, all vehicles must park with their license plate facing the drive aisle; do not back into stalls unless your vehicle is equipped with a front license plate. Standard campus permit enforcement is active Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 7:30 PM. Visitors can purchase parking for $1.00 per hour or obtain a daily visitor pass for $10.00 directly via the PayByPhone app. Outside of enforcement hours—from Friday at 7:30 PM until Monday at 7:00 AM—parking is generally free for visitors, though specific athletic permit restrictions and event-day rate changes may apply during major home football or hockey games. Arrive early for high-profile BGSU rivalry games to secure a space closest to the crosswalks.