Following continued collaboration with downtown businesses, residents, employees, and community partners, Park Kalamazoo is implementing several parking enhancements designed to improve convenience, support downtown activity, and create a more welcoming experience for visitors. The changes include the first 30 minutes free at paid on-street parking spaces, expanded maximum time limits, and shorter enforcement hours.

The changes follow weeks of conversations between City staff, parking officials, downtown stakeholders, and the Downtown Development Authority/Downtown Economic Growth Authority (DDA/DEGA) regarding aligning parking with the experiences of downtown patrons.

Downtown Kalamazoo serves many purposes throughout the day. Some visitors stop in briefly for coffee or takeout, while others spend hours downtown shopping, attending events, dining with friends, or enjoying an evening out. Officials say the parking system should support the full range of downtown activity while maintaining parking availability near businesses and destinations.

Based on that feedback, the following operational changes will be implemented over the coming weeks:

  • The first 30 minutes at all paid on-street parking spaces will be free through fall 2027. To receive 30 minutes free at paid on-street parking spaces, drivers can simply start a parking session using either the ParkMobile app or a payment kiosk by entering their license plate number. Users will receive a prompt indicating that the first 30 minutes are free. Additional time may be added if needed.
  • Maximum time limits at paid on-street spaces will increase from 90 minutes to 3 hours or longer across all parking zones. 
  • On-street parking enforcement hours will end at 5 p.m. in all zones. The premium zone is enforced Monday through Saturday, while the base zone is enforced weekdays only. Sundays are free on the street and in the ramps. On-street parking is not permitted between the hours of 2 and 6 a.m., except for residential parking permit holders.
  • Parking in the public ramps remains free for the first 90 minutes.
  • Updated parking maps will be released in early June identifying free parking areas, free 90-minute parking ramps, long-term parking options, along with 5-hour and 10-hour parking areas.

“These adjustments are directly tied to the feedback we’ve heard from the downtown community,” said Rob Bacigalupi of Mission North, a firm helping Kalamazoo modernize its parking system. “Downtown parking should support the businesses, events, restaurants, and everyday activity that bring people downtown. We want visitors to have options whether they’re stopping in for a few minutes or planning to spend the evening downtown.”

As part of those efforts, Park Kalamazoo will continue the “Park. Shop. Win.” Downtown Dollars giveaway program through Sept. 1, 2026. Visitors who submit a receipt of $25 or more from a downtown business are entered into a weekly drawing for $100 in Downtown Dollars.

The changes build upon the downtown parking updates implemented in April, which were intended to improve parking turnover and availability on high-demand downtown blocks. Since implementation, businesses and community members have shared feedback related to short visits, evening activity, customer convenience, and understanding available parking options.

“Downtown vitality depends on strong partnerships and a positive visitor experience,” said City Manager Malcolm Hankins. “These adjustments reflect the City’s commitment to listening to businesses and residents while continuing to create a downtown environment that is welcoming, convenient, and supportive of economic activity.”

Park Kalamazoo will also continue several related initiatives intended to support downtown activity and improve the visitor experience, including continuing the free first 90-minute parking program in the Epic Center and Kalamazoo Mall ramps, as well as investing in parking ramp maintenance efforts and security improvements.

The operational changes are expected to take up to three weeks to fully implement while signage, kiosks, and the ParkMobile system are updated.

Additional parking information and updated parking maps will be available at www.parkkalamazoo.org.