Facility Overview
Lot 60 is an expansive, open-air surface parking lot situated on the southern perimeter of Central Michigan University (CMU) in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. Positioned along West Campus Drive, this lot offers a quiet, accessible parking option designed primarily to serve university recreational facilities and southern campus amenities. Because it is a level, open-air asphalt facility without overhead height barriers or low garage ceilings, Lot 60 offers unrestricted vertical clearance. This makes it an ideal parking destination not only for standard passenger sedans, crossovers, and minivans, but also for full-size pickup trucks, oversized SUVs, high-roof work and passenger vans, and vehicles carrying rooftop cargo boxes or bike and disc golf gear racks.
Prime Location & Nearby Attractions
Lot 60 holds a premier position for outdoor activity and campus visits on the southern grounds of Central Michigan University. Key nearby destinations include:
- CMU Disc Golf Course: Directly adjacent to Lot 60, this premier 18-hole campus disc golf course features both open fairways and wooded challenges. Lot 60 is the designated parking hub for players year-round.
- Center for Applied Research and Technology (CART): Situated immediately nearby, serving campus research teams, commercial development partners, and academic personnel.
- Kelly/Shorts Stadium & Kulhavi Events Center: Located less than a mile north on campus (approx. 3-4 minutes driving or a 15-minute campus stroll), accommodating Chippewas football matchups, McGuirk Arena basketball games, and headline concerts.
- Student Activity Center (SAC) & Rose Center: The heart of CMU intramural sports and wellness facilities, located just north of the athletic complex.
- Local Lodging & Hospitality: Positioned just south of the Fairfield Inn & Suites Mount Pleasant and minutes from dining along South Mission Street.
Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity
Arriving at Lot 60 is straightforward from both local surface streets and regional corridors. Drivers approaching via US-127 can exit onto East Pickard Road or East Broomfield Street, connecting quickly to Crawford Road or South Mission Street (US-127 Business Route) before turning onto West Campus Drive. The perimeter road configuration ensures minimal traffic friction compared to core campus corridors, allowing quick, orderly entry and exit even following university gatherings or athletic meets. For public transit connections, the Isabella County Transportation Commission (I-CTC) operates fixed routes and Dial-A-Ride shuttle transit serving the Central Michigan University campus and broader Mount Pleasant municipal areas.
Facility Amenities & Key Features
- Open-Air Surface Parking: Generous outdoor footprint offering wide drive aisles and unobstructed clearance for larger pickups and vans.
- Direct Recreational Course Access: Immediate foot-trail connection to the opening tees of the CMU Disc Golf Course.
- Dedicated Accessibility: Marked ADA accessible parking spaces located near primary walkways for convenient pedestrian movement.
- Complimentary Visitor Access: Uniquely designated as a free parking area for disc golf players and campus recreation users.
- Paved & Marked Stalls: Clearly delineated stalls providing systematic vehicle orientation.
- Campus Safety Coverage: Monitored and patrolled by Central Michigan University Police and Parking Services.
Ideal For
- Disc Golf Enthusiasts: Visitors and community members heading to play a round at CMU's scenic 18-hole disc golf course.
- Outdoor Fitness & Campus Walkers: Individuals utilizing southern campus trails, cross-country running routes, and open fields.
- Campus Visitors & Overflow Travelers: Guests visiting nearby research centers or attending community activities on southern university grounds.
- Drivers of Tall & Outsized Vehicles: Owners of lifted 4x4 trucks, utility vans, and vehicles with rooftop sports gear requiring open headroom.
Visitor & Driver Tips
While Lot 60 is designated as free parking for disc golfers and outdoor university recreational users, visitors should always verify posted signage at the lot entrance for any special-event overrides or overnight university restrictions, as CMU generally enforces overnight parking bans across general campus lots between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. During CMU home football game days at Kelly/Shorts Stadium, surrounding campus arteries along Broomfield Street and West Campus Drive experience significant incoming and exiting congestion, so arrive early if you plan to play a round of disc golf on game weekends. In Michigan's winter months, pay attention to weather-related maintenance and snow-plow operations to ensure your vehicle remains clear of designated plowing paths.