Downtown Parking Updates Take Effect to Improve Parking Access and Ava

Published on April 01, 2026

The City of Kalamazoo has installed new parking meter kiosks downtown as part of a series of updates to improve parking availability, better aligning it with demand. The updates take effect today, April 1, 2026, and installation of signage and kiosks is complete.

The changes follow recommendations from the City’s Parking+ Downtown Parking Management Blueprint, first published in 2019 and updated in 2023, which aims to make it easier for visitors to find parking near their destination while maintaining free options throughout downtown.

As part of the updates, 12 downtown blocks have transitioned to paid parking where demand for curbside spaces is highest, while 11 blocks have transitioned to free parking, creating new free parking options downtown. The first 90-minutes will remain free in the City’s parking ramps.

Starting today, paid parking areas will include two pricing zones:

• Premium Rate Zone: $2 per hour, located in the core downtown area where parking demand is highest. This is the current rate on the Kalamazoo Mall.
• Base Rate Zone: $1.50 per hour, located on surrounding streets with moderate demand. The current base rate is $1.75; this represents a reduction in the system-wide rate.

Many on-street spaces will remain free, and visitors will continue to have access to free 90-minute parking in the Epic Center and Kalamazoo Mall ramps, introduced in 2023 to provide a free option for dining, shopping, and errands downtown.

New signage and payment kiosks are in place throughout downtown, and flyers and posters were posted on blocks where parking rules are changing to help visitors navigate the updated parking system.

“The goal of these changes is to make it easier to find a parking space downtown,” said Rob Bacigalupi of Mission North, a firm helping Kalamazoo modernize its parking system. “The new pricing is aimed at re-balancing parking to open up more parking in the busy areas and better utilize parking in other areas. By managing demand on those streets while still offering free parking nearby and in the ramps, visitors should be able to find parking more quickly and spend less time searching.”

Paid parking will be managed through a combination of multi-space payment kiosks and the ParkMobile app, creating a more consistent and streamlined experience across downtown. Kiosks accept coins, credit cards, and debit cards, and are located throughout downtown to serve multiple spaces on each block.

Meter enforcement now begins at 10 a.m., aligning with peak downtown activity. To help drivers adjust, there will be a grace period beginning today. During this time, visitors who have not yet paid for parking may receive a notice instead of a ticket, while standard time limits and other parking regulations will continue to be enforced.

To support downtown businesses during the transition, the City will also launch a Downtown Dollars giveaway beginning the week of April 13. The promotion, called “Park. Shop. Win.”, will run for 20 weeks, with one participant receiving $100 in Downtown Dollars each week. Visitors can enter by submitting a receipt of $25 or more from a downtown business. One winner will be announced every Tuesday during the promotion.

Paid parking helps keep spaces available on the busiest downtown blocks, while revenue generated supports the maintenance and operation of hundreds of free parking spaces, including the 90-minute free ramp parking program.

As part of broader parking system improvements, additional updates will be introduced later this year. New accessible (ADA) parking spaces will be added throughout downtown, bringing the system into compliance with accessibility standards and improving convenience for visitors who need accessible parking. The City plans to add dozens of new accessible spaces, which will be installed after curb improvements, such as updated ramps and curb cuts, are completed to ensure the spaces are fully accessible.

The 53 existing loading zones will be converted to 15-minute spaces to accommodate both loading activity and short-term parking, with additional spaces added to support quick trips for deliveries, shopping, and takeout.

“Healthy downtowns depend on parking turnover,” continued Bacigalupi. “When spaces on the busiest blocks are occupied all day, fewer customers can access those businesses. These updates help ensure more visitors can park close to where they want to shop or dine, while still maintaining free parking options throughout downtown.”

By aligning pricing with demand and expanding free parking options nearby, the updated system will make parking downtown easier to find and more predictable for visitors. Updated parking maps and additional information are available at www.parkkalamazoo.org.