Downtown Bad Axe Parking Study Identifies Opportunities to Improve Access and Wayfinding
This spring, the Huron County Economic Development Corporation (HCEDC), in partnership with the City of Bad Axe, worked with Fishbeck to complete a comprehensive parking study for Downtown Bad Axe.
The study was designed to take a closer look at the downtown’s existing parking supply, how that parking is being used, and whether current parking resources are sufficient to support future growth and development.
As Downtown Bad Axe continues to evolve, understanding how existing parking assets can best support businesses, residents, visitors, events, and new development is an important part of planning for a vibrant downtown.
Taking a Closer Look at Downtown Parking
Fishbeck’s study included a complete inventory of public and private parking within the study area, multiple parking occupancy counts, and one-on-one interviews with downtown stakeholders. In total, the study identified 775 parking spaces within the downtown study boundary:
254 on-street parking spaces
521 off-street parking spaces
287 public off-street spaces
234 private off-street spaces
Parking occupancy was observed during both weekday and Friday conditions at multiple times throughout the day to provide a better understanding of how parking is being used.
The study found that overall downtown parking occupancy never exceeded 34%, meaning that more than 500 spaces were available during a typical observation period. Fishbeck concluded that Downtown Bad Axe has sufficient parking to support current needs as well as currently known future development projects.
While some areas experience higher demand than others, the study indicates that the primary challenge is not a lack of parking, it is making the parking that already exists easier to identify, access, and understand.
What We Heard from Downtown Stakeholders
As part of the study, Fishbeck conducted interviews with eight stakeholders, including business and property owners, county representatives, library staff, and former elected or board members. Several common themes emerged from those conversations.
Events can create temporary parking challenges. While typical day-to-day parking demand is manageable, larger events can create higher demand in specific areas of downtown.
Public parking isn't always easy to identify. Stakeholders noted that visitors may not know which lots are publicly available versus privately owned. The study found that municipal parking lots generally did not have signage identifying them as public parking.
Wayfinding could be improved. Clearer signage could help visitors unfamiliar with Downtown Bad Axe locate available parking and direct them toward overflow parking when needed.
Parking regulations could be clearer and more consistent. The study recommends reviewing existing two-hour and overnight parking signage to determine whether the regulations are still necessary and whether signage is consistent throughout downtown.
Some on-street parking locations present visibility and safety concerns. Fishbeck also reviewed the relationship between on-street parking, traffic speeds, visibility, and pedestrian crossings.
Looking Ahead to Downtown Development
One of the study's goals was to understand how planned and potential development could affect parking demand.
Fishbeck reviewed several projects and potential changes, including the Huron County Community Foundation building, Arise Community Church, the Bad Axe Police storage garage, future downtown activity spaces, and the Huron County Hockey Association ice arena.
The study found that these projects can be supported by the existing downtown parking supply, along with parking provided as part of new development. For example, the future hockey arena is expected to include on-site parking for more than 60 vehicles, while the proposed changes associated with the Bad Axe Police storage garage could create an opportunity for additional overflow parking at the Water Tower lot.
What Comes Next?
Rather than focusing on building large amounts of additional parking, the study recommends making better use of the parking Downtown Bad Axe already has. Some of the recommended next steps include:
Adding signage and wayfinding at public parking lots
Identifying and clearly signing overflow parking areas
Including parking maps and availability information on City and County websites
Including parking information in event promotions
Reviewing parking regulations and signage for consistency
Conducting additional parking counts during different seasons to better understand changing demand
Considering additional parking opportunities at the Water Tower lot in conjunction with the new police garage
Promoting alternative transportation options, including additional bicycle parking
Supporting a Vibrant Downtown
The results of the parking study provide an important baseline for Downtown Bad Axe as the community continues to grow and invest in its future. The takeaway is encouraging: Downtown Bad Axe has sufficient parking to support current needs and known future development. The opportunity now is to improve how that parking is communicated, managed, and connected to the businesses, destinations, events, and people who use downtown.
By better identifying existing parking resources, improving wayfinding, monitoring changes in demand, and planning ahead for future development, Bad Axe can maximize its existing parking assets while continuing to support a vibrant and active downtown.
Want to take a deeper look at the findings, parking counts, maps, stakeholder feedback, and recommendations?
