2026 Parking Program Approved by St. Joseph City Commission
St. Joseph, Michigan, March 17, 2026—The St. Joseph City Commission on Monday night approved an amendment to the resolution establishing the downtown parking program originally implemented in 2025, with a significantly revised program taking effect June 1.
The 2026 program will focus on parking on the busiest streets, with the majority of downtown parking remaining free for residents and visitors. The parking program will be in effect June 1 through Labor Day weekend from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Under the plan:
Paid spaces will include only the highest-demand on-street spaces.
- All parking lots will be free.
- Free three-hour parking will be available in the Apricot, Blueberry and Cherry lots, as well as along Lake Boulevard and lower-demand side streets.
- Free all-day parking will be available in all other City-owned lots.
- There will be a mix of free and paid parking on both sides of Main Street.
- City residents will be able to park for free with a City-issued parking pass.
“The 2026 parking program is very different than what we rolled out last year,” said Kelly Ewalt, development director for the City of St. Joseph. “Through extensive public input – including over 150 touchpoints with residents and businesses – the development and refinement of the 2026 plan has been a truly collaborative effort between the City and the community. The new program reduces the number of paid spaces by more than 80% while focusing our efforts on creating turnover in the spaces that will have the greatest positive impact on downtown businesses.”
As before, 80% of the net revenues from the parking program will be reinvested into the downtown. During the City’s February open houses for the draft plan, residents and businesses provided feedback on what these funds should go toward, with infrastructure and streetscape improvements rising to the top.
“Overall, the majority of attendees at the open houses prioritized infrastructure and streetscape improvements for downtown,” Ewalt said. “The downtown is such a beautiful and unique aspect of the City, and it’s really a source of pride for everyone who is a part of this community.
“The parking program revenues can also potentially help us bring back popular efforts like public art or increase the number of fun events and activities available downtown.”
With the amendment approved, City officials will begin work to implement the program in the coming weeks, including updates to pay stations, signage and the resident parking pass process. At the Commission’s direction, the Parking Subgroup will also develop an annual option for those who prefer to pay for parking for the entire season. The public is encouraged to watch the City of St. Joseph social media pages and website for updates as they become available.
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The City of St. Joseph is a historic town located off of I-94 between Chicago and Detroit, nestled beside the mouth of the St. Joseph River and Lake Michigan. With a population of about 7,800, the small town features a quaint downtown with local shops, historic buildings and brick streets overlooking a clear view of Lake Michigan sunsets and the iconic inner and outer lighthouses. St. Joseph is the Berrien County seat and home to the popular county-owned Silver Beach.
