Facility Overview

The P2 Parking Garage (commonly known as the Locust Deck) is a modern, multi-tier covered parking structure situated at 348 Locust Street in the medical and civic corridor of Akron, Ohio. Designed primarily to serve visitors, patients, and staff of the sprawling Akron Children\'s Hospital medical campus—including the adjacent Considine Professional Building and Kay Jewelers Pavilion—the garage provides secure, weather-protected parking throughout the year. The multi-level facility features clearly marked drive lanes, smooth two-way ramps, wide parking bays, and dedicated elevators. Vertical clearance within the covered decks accommodates standard passenger cars, minivans, crossover vehicles, and standard-height light trucks and SUVs up to a standard clearance limit of 7 feet 0 inches (2.13 meters). Over-height commercial sprinters, lifted trucks with tall roof racks, and dual-axle vehicles should utilize designated oversized surface lots nearby.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Conveniently situated just southwest of downtown Akron, the P2 Locust Parking Garage provides unmatched direct access to local healthcare institutions and urban destinations:

• Akron Children\'s Hospital Campus: Directly connected via weather-protected pedestrian walkways and skywalks to the Considine Professional Building, Kay Jewelers Pavilion, and the Main Hospital entrance.
• Cleveland Clinic Akron General: Located just a few blocks north along Cedar Street (under a 5-minute drive or 10-minute walk).
• Canal Park Stadium: Home of the Akron RubberDucks minor league baseball team, located roughly 0.6 miles east (approx. 12-minute walk).
• Downtown Akron & Main Street Entertainment District: A quick 3-minute drive or 15-minute walk to the historic Akron Civic Theatre, Lock 3 Park, Lock 4, and the John S. Knight Center.
• The University of Akron: Just under 1.5 miles east, offering convenient access to campus events, E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall, and InfoCision Stadium.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

The garage features well-signposted vehicular entry and exit gates directly on Locust Street between West Cedar Street and West Exchange Street. Drivers arriving via major thoroughfares can quickly reach the deck from State Route 59 (the Akron Innerbelt), Interstate 76, or Interstate 77 via the Downtown/Exchange Street exits. Traffic flows smoothly through automated barrier arms, even during morning and afternoon hospital shift transitions. For public transit users, the facility is well connected to METRO RTA bus routes traveling along Exchange and Cedar Streets, and sits less than a mile from the Robert K. Pfaff METRO Transit Center, Akron\'s central public transportation hub.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

• Covered Multi-Deck Parking: Offers all-weather shelter shielding vehicles and passengers from rain, snow, and extreme summer heat.
• Complimentary Visitor Parking: Akron Children\'s Hospital offers free parking validation for patients, patient families, and authorized campus visitors.
• Accessibility (ADA): Multiple dedicated accessible ADA-compliant parking spaces positioned on ground and elevator-adjacent levels with barrier-free ramp access.
• Elevator & Pedestrian Skywalks: Modern passenger elevators and climate-controlled skybridge links providing safe, direct access into clinical hospital buildings.
• Security & Safety: Well-illuminated bays and stairwells, round-the-clock closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance, emergency call boxes, and frequent hospital security patrols.
• Electric Vehicle Support: Designated EV charging stations conveniently located on lower levels for zero-emission vehicles.

Ideal For

• Patients and Families: Those visiting Akron Children\'s Hospital clinics, pediatric specialists, outpatient surgery centers, and emergency services.
• Healthcare Workers & Medical Visitors: Physicians, nurses, administrative staff, and medical sales representatives servicing surrounding medical facilities.
• Downtown Akron Visitors: Motorists seeking secure, monitored parking close to the hospital district and southern downtown venues.

Visitor & Driver Tips

When planning your trip to the Locust Deck, approach via West Exchange Street or West Cedar Street and look for the overhead blue hospital P2 signage. During peak morning appointment times (typically between 8:30 AM and 11:30 AM), lower levels fill quickly; proceed to upper floors for the fastest and most stress-free parking. Remember to bring your parking ticket inside if validation is required at your clinic reception or registration desk. If you are accompanying someone with mobility challenges, consider utilizing the ground-level passenger drop-off zones at the Considine Professional Building or hospital main lobby before parking your car in the P2 deck.