Facility Overview

Situated in the heart of Central Michigan University (CMU) in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, Lot 39 is a dedicated campus open-air surface parking facility. Located conveniently near South Washington Street, Ottawa Court, and West Campus Drive, the lot provides essential vehicular access to the university's central and southern academic and residential corridors. The facility is arranged with broad two-way drive aisles and standard perpendicular stalls, facilitating straightforward maneuvering for incoming and exiting traffic. Because Lot 39 is an open-air surface lot, it offers complete open headroom without the vertical clearance constraints typical of multi-story parking decks. Standard sedans, full-size pickup trucks, large SUVs, and high-roof conversion vans can park comfortably without height anxiety.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Lot 39 holds an advantageous position on the CMU Mount Pleasant campus, placing students, faculty, and campus visitors within direct walking distance of major academic buildings, residential halls, and cultural facilities:

• Academic Core: Immediate 2 to 4-minute walk to the Dow Science Complex, Brooks Hall, Pearce Hall, Moore Hall, and Anspach Hall.
• Arts & Culture: Just a 5-minute walk to the Bush Theatre and the CMU School of Music building.
• Campus Life & Dining: A 7 to 9-minute walk to the Bovee University Center (UC) and the Charles V. Park Library.
• Athletics & Recreation: Approximately a 12 to 15-minute walk south (or a quick ride on campus transit) to Kelly/Shorts Stadium, McGuirk Arena, Rose Center, and the Student Activity Center (SAC).
• Greater Mount Pleasant: Located just 1.5 miles south of historic downtown Mount Pleasant and roughly 4.5 miles west of the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Vehicular ingress and egress to Lot 39 are primarily facilitated through South Washington Street and West Campus Drive, connecting seamlessly to major east-west arteries such as Bellows Street and East Broomfield Street. Regional motorists can easily navigate to the facility via US-127 Business Route (South Mission Street) and Michigan Highway 20 (M-20), allowing straightforward transit to and from Midland, Clare, and Lansing. Public transportation connectivity is robust: the Isabella County Transportation Commission (I-Ride) operates regular shuttle routes across campus with nearby stops along Washington Street and West Campus Drive, while regional intercity connections through Indian Trails are accessible at the nearby CMU Event Center terminal.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

• Open-Air Surface Parking: Level asphalt ground lot with clearly delineated stall striping and generous turning radiuses.
• Unrestricted Overhead Headroom: Fully open sky layout suitable for tall SUVs, trucks, and antenna-equipped vehicles.
• ADA Accessible Stalls: Designated barrier-free parking stalls positioned close to sidewalk curb cuts and paved campus pedestrian walkways.
• Campus Safety Measures: Illuminating overhead light poles throughout the facility, routine patrols by the CMU Police Department, and immediate proximity to campus Blue Light Emergency Phones.
• Virtual Permit System: Seamless License Plate Recognition (LPR) system integrated with CMU Parking Services self-service portal.
• Winter Maintenance: Consistent university snow clearing and salting operations during mid-Michigan winter months.

Ideal For

• CMU Students & Residents: On-campus residents and commuter students attending classes in adjacent central campus academic buildings.
• University Faculty & Staff: Department personnel working inside neighboring halls such as Dow, Pearce, Brooks, and Anspach.
• Campus Visitors & Guest Lecturers: Guests attending university seminars, departmental conferences, Bush Theatre performances, or official admissions visits.
• Event & Game-Day Attendees: Patrons seeking reliable parking within reasonable walking distance to Chippewa sports venues and university gatherings.

Visitor & Driver Tips

All university parking lots are monitored under CMU Parking Services regulations. On-campus parking permits are strictly enforced Monday through Friday between 2:00 AM and 5:00 PM throughout the calendar year. Visitors without a student or faculty permit must purchase a daily visitor pass through the CMU online parking portal or at the CMU Police/Parking Services window in the Combined Services Building. CMU utilizes automated License Plate Recognition (LPR); motorists must ensure their license plate faces the drive aisle (pull-in parking) unless their vehicle displays a CMU-authorized front vanity plate. During high-attendance events, such as fall football home games or commencement ceremonies, arrive at least 30 to 45 minutes in advance and observe temporary event signage and direction from campus traffic personnel.