Facility Overview

Lot 64 is a premier, expansive open-air surface parking facility situated on the southern athletic campus of Central Michigan University (CMU) in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. Located directly along East Campus Drive, this lot serves as a vital transit and parking anchor for both everyday university commuters and thousands of sports fans on Chippewa game days. The open-sky footprint features wide driving lanes and generous asphalt parking bays designed to handle high volumes of vehicular movement smoothly. Because Lot 64 is a completely uncovered ground-level lot, it has no overhead clearance barriers, making it ideally suited for standard passenger sedans, pickup trucks, full-size SUVs, commercial passenger vans, and high-roof transit vehicles. During select university athletic events, designated sections are also staged to accommodate larger specialty tailgating vehicles under athletics department guidelines.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Situated squarely in CMU's vibrant athletic and recreation district, Lot 64 boasts immediate proximity to the university's headline sporting, entertainment, and gathering venues:

• Kelly/Shorts Stadium: Located just a 2- to 3-minute walk (under 500 feet) to the east, home of CMU Chippewas Division I football and major outdoor commencement ceremonies.
• John G. Kulhavi Events Center & McGuirk Arena: Situated adjacent to the lot, hosting NCAA Division I men's and women's basketball, gymnastics, wrestling, major concerts, and touring shows.
• Indoor Athletic Complex (IAC) & Chippewa Champions Center: Directly bordering the parking grounds, housing state-of-the-art training centers, turf practice facilities, and track and field complexes.
• Theunissen Stadium & Margo Jonker Stadium: CMU's premier varsity baseball and softball venues, reachable on foot in less than 5 minutes.
• CMU Soccer and Lacrosse Stadium: Located within a brief 3-minute stroll across East Campus Drive.
• Student Activity Center (SAC): CMU’s central fitness, intramural, and recreational hub, located roughly 6 minutes walking distance north.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Navigating to and from Lot 64 is straightforward thanks to its placement near key regional arterial corridors. Primary vehicular ingress and egress points feed directly onto East Campus Drive, connecting seamlessly to East Broomfield Street to the north and University Park Drive to the west. Drivers arriving from regional destinations can reach the lot via US-127 by taking the East Broomfield Street or Bluegrass Road exits, or via M-20 (Pickard Street) through Mission Street. Following major football games and packed arena concerts, dedicated CMU Police and event traffic crews manage intersection signals to funnel departing vehicles swiftly toward US-127 and Mission Street. For non-driving visitors, the lot is served by Isabella County Transportation Commission (I-Ride) bus routes across campus, while regional intercity motorcoach service via Indian Trails operates pickup and drop-off stops near the CMU Events Center along Broomfield Street.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

• Expansive Open-Air Surface Capacity: Paved, well-graded asphalt lot with clearly delineated lane markers and wide parking stalls.
• Zero Height Clearance Restrictions: Open-sky design accommodates tall pickup trucks, rooftop racks, high-roof conversion vans, and authorized tailgating units.
• Campus Safety & Illumination: Fully illuminated throughout the evening hours with high-mast lighting and equipped with university 24/7 Blue Light emergency call stations connected to CMU Police dispatch.
• Accessible ADA Parking: Dedicated ADA-compliant barrier-free parking stalls located closest to event center walkways and stadium entry gates.
• Digital & Virtual Permitting: Streamlined enforcement via automated License Plate Recognition (LPR); guest passes and daily permits can be booked 24/7 online or through mobile platforms.
• Direct Venue Connectivity: Paved, sidewalk-connected critical pathways ensuring barrier-free pedestrian transit straight into venue concourses and ticket gates.

Ideal For

• Chippewa Football Fans & Tailgaters: Serving as the preferred and VIP Chippewa Athletic Fund donor lot directly facing Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
• Arena & Concert Attendees: Convenient doorstep parking for games and live entertainment at McGuirk Arena and the John G. Kulhavi Events Center.
• CMU Commuter Students & Staff: A primary daily commuter parking hub during standard academic weekdays.
• Varsity & Youth Sports Tournaments: Ideal for visiting families and travel teams attending competitions at the Indoor Athletic Complex, track, softball, and baseball fields.

Visitor & Driver Tips

During standard university operating periods (Monday through Friday, 2:00 AM to 5:00 PM), valid CMU parking permits or official guest parking passes are required; visitor permits can be purchased online through the CMU Parking Services portal for a standard daily fee. On varsity football game Saturdays, normal campus parking rules are superseded by CMU Athletics game-day policies: Lot 64 operates primarily as a restricted-access lot reserved for Chippewa Club members and football permit holders, opening four hours prior to kickoff. Because campus parking enforcement uses automated license plate recognition, all drivers must ensure their rear license plate faces out toward the drive aisle unless displaying a CMU-authorized front vanity plate. For sellout games and marquee concerts, arriving at least 90 minutes before the scheduled start time ensures seamless parking and avoids event traffic slowdowns along East Broomfield Street.