Accessible downtown

In shortThe first 90 minutes are free in two downtown parking ramps. Metro Connect gives curb-to-curb rides anywhere in Kalamazoo County. If you need an accommodation at an event, ask ahead by email or by calling 311.

Parking

• The Epic Center and Kalamazoo Mall parking ramps are free for the first 90 minutes.
• The city has been adding accessible (barrier-free) parking spaces on downtown blocks that didn’t have them, along with new curb ramps.
• On-street meters are paid at kiosks that take coins, credit and debit cards, or with the ParkMobile app.
• Questions about the ramps: call Park Kalamazoo at (269) 342-6383.

Buses and rides

• Kalamazoo Transportation Center, 459 N. Burdick St., is the downtown hub for Metro buses, Amtrak and intercity buses. The building is open every day, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Metro Connect offers shared, curb-to-curb rides anywhere in Kalamazoo County. Anyone can register. Riders 62 and older and certified riders with disabilities pay a reduced fare.
• ADA paratransit is available for people whose disability prevents them from using Metro’s fixed-route buses some or all of the time.
• To apply for ADA paratransit or ask for a reasonable modification on a bus route, call Metro at (269) 337-8222. For fares and passes, call (269) 337-8858.
• Riding the free Holly Jolly Trolley and need a ramp or lift? Call 311 before you go to check.

Getting around

• The Kalamazoo Mall is a pedestrian street, so the heart of downtown shopping is free of car traffic.
• Kalamazoo installed curb cuts as a pilot project in the 1940s to help veterans with disabilities get to work.
• Some streets are being rebuilt through Streets for All. Detours can change sidewalk routes, so check current closures (opens in a new tab) before you go.

A place to sit and warm up

The Kalamazoo Public Library’s Central Library, 315 S. Rose St., is a block from Bronson Park and open to everyone. Call (269) 553-7800 for hours and access details.

Crowds and quieter times

• The Holiday Parade draws close to 30,000 people along its route. If crowds are hard for you, arrive early to find a spot with room around you, or plan your downtown visit for another day.
• Event nights like Art Hop and Moonlight Madness bring big crowds. For a calmer visit, try a weekday during the day.

At holiday events

Ask for what would help you enjoy an event, like seating, an ASL interpreter, captioning or a quiet space. Email downtown@kalamazoocity.org or call 311, ideally a week ahead. Each event page has the details.

Sources

• City of Kalamazoo: Downtown parking updates (2026) (opens in a new tab)
• Downtown parking changes flyer (March 2026) (opens in a new tab)
• Kalamazoo Metro: Metro Connect details (opens in a new tab)
• Kalamazoo Metro: Kalamazoo Transportation Center (opens in a new tab)
• Kalamazoo Public Library: Getting to Central Library (opens in a new tab)

Last checked October 2026. Details change, so call ahead if something is essential to your visit.