About this Location

Facility Overview

The M81 Parking Lot at Youngstown State University (YSU) is a dedicated open-air surface parking facility situated along West Scott Street on the northern perimeter of the university campus in Youngstown, Ohio. Serving students, university personnel, and campus visitors, the lot provides an orderly, ground-level layout with clearly marked bays and wide drive aisles that facilitate straightforward maneuvers. Because it is an open surface lot without overhead barriers, M81 features unrestricted vertical clearance, making it suitable not only for compact sedans and standard passenger cars, but also for large pickup trucks, full-size SUVs, and high-roof passenger or utility vans.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

M81 is strategically positioned adjacent to key athletic and academic complexes on the YSU campus, making it an ideal destination for game days, campus visits, and collegiate events. Notable destinations within direct walking distance include:

Stambaugh Stadium (Arnold D. Stambaugh Stadium / Beede Field): Home of the YSU Penguins football team, located just a short 3- to 5-minute walk south of the lot.
Watson and Tressel Training Site (WATTS): YSU\'s premier indoor athletic facility, located directly adjacent along West Scott Street.
Farmers National Bank Field & Covelli Sports Complex: Serving Penguins track and field, soccer, and softball, mere steps away.
Beeghly Center: Home arena for YSU basketball and volleyball, located approximately an 8-minute walk to the southeast.
Cafaro House & Campus Housing: Convenient residential student housing located right around the corner.
Downtown Youngstown: Located just over a mile south, providing access to dining, nightlife, and cultural venues like the Covelli Centre and DeYor Performing Arts Center within a 5-minute drive.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Ingress and egress to Lot M81 are positioned along West Scott Street, which links directly to Fifth Avenue to the west and Elm Street to the east. This layout allows drivers to avoid congestion on core campus corridors like Wick Avenue and University Plaza. Regional highway access is exceptionally convenient, with quick connections to the Madison Avenue Expressway (US-422), Interstate 680, and Ohio State Route 711. Public transit travelers are served by the Western Reserve Transit Authority (WRTA), which operates regular campus and city routes along Fifth Avenue and Wick Avenue, offering seamless connections to the Federal Station Transit Center in downtown Youngstown.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

Open-Air Surface Parking: Easy drive-in access with unobstructed clearance suitable for oversized personal and athletic vehicles.
ADA Accessible Spaces: Dedicated handicap-accessible bays positioned near pedestrian egress routes with curb cuts.
Safety & Lighting: Equipped with overhead campus lighting poles and regular patrols by the Youngstown State University Police Department (YSUPD).
Emergency Call Stations: Close proximity to campus blue-light emergency security call boxes.
Permit & Digital Payment Systems: Managed under YSU Parking Services, accommodating registered student/staff hangtags or digital permits, as well as designated event-rate parking.

Ideal For

Penguins Athletics Fans: Tailgaters and spectators heading to football games at Stambaugh Stadium or track/field events at the WATTS complex.
YSU Commuters & Students: Daily campus commuters accessing north-campus residence halls and athletic facilities.
Campus Recruits & Visitors: Prospective students and families touring athletic complexes and surrounding academic facilities.

Visitor & Driver Tips

During major YSU athletic events, particularly home football games on Saturday afternoons, parking lots surrounding Stambaugh Stadium fill rapidly or may transition to prepaid athletics donor permits and cash/event fee operations. It is highly recommended to arrive at least 60 to 90 minutes prior to kickoff to secure a spot and navigate West Scott Street traffic smoothly. On non-event weekdays, be sure to verify active permit enforcement zones with YSU Parking Services to avoid parking citations.