Facility Overview

SWOCC Parking Lot #3 is a spacious open-air surface parking lot located on the northern sector of the Southwestern Oregon Community College (SWOCC) campus in Coos Bay, Oregon. Set amidst the coastal pine woodlands and coastal dune landscape that characterize the college grounds, Lot #3 provides direct vehicular access to academic facilities, campus athletic complexes, and regional recreational trails. The lot features standard paved parking bays arranged in clear drive aisles with wide turning radiuses, allowing straightforward maneuvering for passenger vehicles of all sizes.

Because SWOCC Parking Lot #3 is an uncovered outdoor surface lot with no overhead barriers or height restrictors, it offers unobstructed vertical clearance. This makes it an ideal parking solution not only for everyday sedans, crossovers, and compacts, but also for full-size pickup trucks, large SUVs, utility vans, and high-roof transit vans. While oversized commercial vehicles and campers should obey campus overnight regulations, daytime visitors and eventgoers driving larger vehicles will find ample maneuvering space.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

SWOCC Parking Lot #3 serves as a primary parking nexus for campus events, student academics, and outdoor recreation in Coos Bay. Key destinations in close proximity include:

• John Topits Park & Empire Lakes: Direct connection to the multi-use nature trails surrounding Middle and Lower Empire Lakes, offering scenic lakeside strolls, fishing, and trail running within a two-minute walk from the lot perimeter.
• SWOCC Athletics Facilities: Convenient walking distance (3 to 5 minutes) to the Student Recreation Center, Prosper Hall Gymnasium (home of SWOCC Lakers basketball and volleyball), the campus track and soccer field, and the college baseball and softball diamonds.
• Hales Center for the Performing Arts: Situated within a short 5-minute walk across campus, hosting theater productions, symphonies, community lectures, and student concerts.
• Oregon Coast Culinary Institute (OCCI): Located on the south campus perimeter, renowned for community dining events and world-class culinary instruction.
• Commercial Amenities: Just minutes south along Newmark Avenue and north toward Virginia Avenue, visitors can easily access Pony Village Mall, North Bend medical clinics, Coos Bay Village, and coastal dining spots.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Vehicular access to Lot #3 is straightforward from the main campus arterial system. Drivers arriving via US Highway 101 can turn westbound onto Newmark Avenue, passing retail hubs like Walmart before turning into the college entrance drive and following campus wayfinding signage north toward Lot #3. Alternatively, drivers approaching from North Bend or Ocean Boulevard can navigate south via Broadway and Virginia Avenue.

Campus traffic flows efficiently before and after athletic competitions and academic lectures, with multiple exit corridors feeding back onto Newmark Avenue. For those using public transit, Coos County Area Transit (CCAT) operates scheduled bus routes serving the Southwestern Oregon Community College hub on Newmark Avenue, providing connections throughout Coos Bay, North Bend, and Charleston. For regional air transit, Southwest Oregon Regional Airport (OTH) is situated only 3 miles north.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

• Paved, open-air surface layout offering generous space and natural lighting during daylight hours.
• Unrestricted vertical clearance accommodating tall vehicles, trucks with roof racks, and high-profile work vans.
• Designated ADA accessible parking stalls marked in close proximity to paved, barrier-free campus pathways.
• Direct trailhead access connecting drivers to the forested walking and jogging paths of John Topits Park.
• Campus safety presence monitored and patrolled by Southwestern Oregon Community College Campus Security.
• Free general daytime parking for college visitors, students, and community trail users without metered rates.

Ideal For

• Students & Faculty: Commuters heading to northern campus academic buildings, vocational classrooms, and fitness centers.
• Sports Spectators: Lakers fans attending basketball games in Prosper Hall, track and field meets, or collegiate soccer and baseball matchups.
• Outdoor Enthusiasts & Dog Walkers: Local community members and visitors heading to the scenic trails around Empire Lakes.
• Event & Theater Attendees: Guests attending performances, graduation ceremonies, or regional conferences at SWOCC event facilities.

Visitor & Driver Tips

When planning your trip to SWOCC Parking Lot #3, take advantage of the generous open space during normal operating hours. General visitor parking on the SWOCC campus is free; however, pay attention to posted signage reserving select stalls for campus staff or service vehicles during weekday business hours. During varsity tournament weekends or commencement events, Lot #3 fills up rapidly, so plan to arrive 20 to 30 minutes early to secure a convenient stall near your destination. If visiting after dusk, note the locations of outdoor campus light poles and emergency call boxes along the main pedestrian corridors leading toward central campus.