Facility Overview

The Rec Center North Parking Lot is a spacious, open-air surface parking facility situated along Swisher Drive on the Upper Campus of Commonwealth University - Bloomsburg (Bloomsburg University) in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. Designed primarily to serve university students, faculty, staff, and visitors traveling to the upper campus sports and wellness facilities, the lot features wide standard drive aisles and straightforward perpendicular parking bays. Because this is an open-air surface parking lot with no overhead barriers or height restrictions, it provides unlimited vertical clearance. This makes it exceptionally well-suited not only for standard sedans, compacts, and crossovers, but also for full-size pickup trucks, large SUVs, wheelchair-accessible conversion vans, and passenger vans commonly used by visiting athletic clubs.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Located in the heart of Bloomsburg University’s athletic and student recreation hub, this lot offers unbeatable proximity to major campus fitness and sporting destinations:

• Bloomsburg Student Recreation Center: Situated directly adjacent to the lot, providing instantaneous walking access to indoor basketball courts, cardio suites, climbing walls, and exercise studios.
• Steph Pettit Athletic Complex: Located just a 2 to 4-minute walk across Swisher Drive, serving as the home turf for Bloomsburg Huskies soccer, field hockey, lacrosse, baseball, and softball.
• Nelson Field House: Approximately a 5-minute walk down the upper campus corridor, home to varsity basketball, wrestling, swimming, and university athletic training facilities.
• Danny Hale Field at Redman Stadium: Within an easy 7 to 9-minute walk or quick shuttle ride for NCAA football game days and track and field meets.
• Upper Campus Student Housing: Steps away from the Jessica S. Kozloff Apartments and Montgomery Hall, making it a critical hub for resident students and their weekend visitors.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Drivers can access the Rec Center North Parking Lot directly via Swisher Drive, which connects conveniently to Country Club Drive and Lightstreet Road (PA Route 487). The lot provides quick regional access to Interstate 80 (via Exit 236), allowing out-of-town visitors and visiting athletic teams to reach the facility without navigating dense downtown streets. Bloomsburg University operates an efficient campus shuttle service with stops nearby along Swisher Drive, offering frequent, direct transit down the hill to the Lower Campus, Carver Hall, academic classrooms, and Downtown Bloomsburg dining spots along Main Street.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

• Open-Air Surface Parking: Generous headroom accommodation with zero overhead height restrictions.
• ADA Accessible Spaces: Clearly designated handicap-accessible stalls located conveniently near paved walkways and curb cuts leading to the Rec Center entrance.
• Campus Safety & Lighting: Equipped with overhead high-intensity night lighting and campus blue-light emergency phones linked to university police.
• Pedestrian Connectivity: Well-maintained paved sidewalks and crosswalks connecting directly to upper campus athletic facilities.
• Convenient Shuttle Transit: Immediate access to the campus shuttle loop for transit to Lower Campus academic buildings.

Ideal For

• Fitness Enthusiasts & Gym Members: Direct, front-door parking for students, faculty, and community members utilizing the Student Recreation Center.
• Huskies Sports Fans & Families: Perfect gameday parking for soccer, lacrosse, baseball, softball, and field hockey events at Steph Pettit Athletic Complex.
• Visiting Teams & Officials: Ample parking space capable of handling oversized vans and utility vehicles for regional collegiate matchups.
• Campus Residents & Visitors: A primary parking resource for residents of upper campus apartments and their authorized guests.

Visitor & Driver Tips

• Permit Regulations: Parking enforcement is strictly maintained by Commonwealth University Police. Always check posted signage at the lot entrance regarding required student, staff, or visitor parking permits during standard weekday hours (typically 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM).
• Visitor Passes: Campus visitors can obtain day passes or register temporary parking online through the university parking portal prior to arrival.
• Game-Day Congestion: Expect elevated traffic volumes on Swisher Drive during weekend tournament triple-headers and varsity athletic events; arriving 20 to 30 minutes before opening whistle ensures quick parking.
• Winter Weather Awareness: During Pennsylvania winter snow alerts, monitor campus parking declarations, as sections of upper campus lots may be designated for snow removal operations.