About this Location

Facility Overview

Lot 69 is an open-air surface parking facility situated at 260 S Forge St on the northern edge of The University of Akron campus in Akron, Ohio. Designed primarily to serve university students, faculty, staff, medical visitors, and campus guests, this paved lot offers convenient ground-level parking with clearly demarcated bays and drive aisles. Because it is a surface lot without overhead barriers or low-hanging structural ceilings, Lot 69 provides unlimited vertical clearance, making it an excellent parking choice for standard passenger cars, large SUVs, full-size pickup trucks, and high-roof conversion vans that cannot fit into standard campus parking garages.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Situated along South Forge Street, Lot 69 offers unmatched pedestrian proximity to academic, medical, and cultural destinations in northeast Akron:

The University of Akron Science & Engineering Quad: Directly adjacent to Folk Hall (Mary Schiller Myers School of Art), the Goodyear Polymer Center, and the Auburn Science and Engineering Center (ASEC), reachable within a 2- to 4-minute walk (0.1–0.2 miles).
Summa Health System – Akron Campus: Located just northeast along Forge Street, Summa Health\'s main hospital complex and medical pavilions are within a 5- to 8-minute walk (0.3 miles), making this a viable secondary option for hospital visitors.
InfoCision Stadium & Stile Athletics Field House: Located approximately 0.6 miles south, serving as a walkable overflow option for Akron Zips football games and track events (10–12 minutes on foot).
E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall: Located about 0.5 miles southwest, hosting Broadway tours, regional symphonies, and university commencement ceremonies.
Downtown Akron & Historic Arts District: Downtown dining, craft breweries, and the Akron Art Museum are just under a mile to the west (approx. 3–4 minutes by car or rideshare).

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Lot 69 features direct ingress and egress onto South Forge Street, facilitating seamless travel to both East Market Street and East Buchtel Avenue. Drivers arriving from outside Akron can quickly access the lot via State Route 8 (SR-8) at the Buchtel Avenue/Carroll Street or Perkins Street exits, which link directly to Interstate 76 (I-76) and Interstate 77 (I-77). METRO RTA bus transit routes stop within short walking distance along East Market Street and Buchtel Avenue, providing direct public transit connections across Summit County.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

Open-Air Surface Parking: Easy drive-in access with unobstructed clearance suitable for oversized vehicles and trucks.
Illumination & Safety: Equipped with campus pole lighting and integrated with University of Akron emergency call stations (Blue Light phones) nearby.
Accessible Spaces: Dedicated ADA-compliant accessible parking stalls located close to campus pedestrian walkways.
Digital Payment: Parking managed via university digital permits and transient guest pay-by-plate systems (such as ParkMobile).
Campus Patrol: Regularly monitored by The University of Akron Police Department (UAPD) and campus parking enforcement.

Ideal For

University Students & Faculty: Attending classes or conducting research in Folk Hall, Goodyear Polymer Center, or Auburn Science and Engineering Center.
Hospital & Clinic Visitors: Seeking convenient surface parking near Summa Health Akron Campus facilities.
Campus Eventgoers: Attending lectures, gallery openings at the Emily Davis Gallery in Folk Hall, or Zips athletic matches.
High-Clearance Vehicles: Drivers with commercial vans, roof racks, or lifted trucks that exceed indoor garage limits.

Visitor & Driver Tips

University of Akron parking regulations are enforced during weekdays; always register your license plate using the designated mobile parking app or secure a university visitor permit before leaving your vehicle unattended. If visiting during major university game days or Summa Health shift changes, arrive 15 minutes early to secure a prime stall close to the pedestrian crosswalks on South Forge Street.