Royal Oak Opens 11 Mile Parking Garage on June 1

The City of Royal Oak will open its new 11 Mile parking garage for daily use on June 1, 2019. The new garage will be patrolled by Royal Oak Police and will include two hours of free parking before 5 p.m., Monday – Saturday, the same as the other city-owned Center Street, North Lafayette and South Lafayette garages. After the two free hours, the daily rate is 75 cents per hour; evenings after 5 p.m. there is a flat $5 rate. Garage parking is also free all day on Sundays and civic holidays. Additionally, 19 surface level parking spots, four of which are handicap accessible, have been added along Royal Oak Way, the alley adjacent to the 11 Mile garage.

“The Rethink Royal Oak development is focused on the future of the city, and the 11 Mile garage is the first step towards that vision,” said Royal Oak City Community Engagement Specialist Judy Davids. “The parking garage is centrally located offering convenient parking for residents and visitors to patron The Royal Oak Farmers Market, Library and our excellent downtown shops and restaurants.”

An opening kickoff event will take place on the 11 Mile Garage rooftop on June 15, 2019.

• 7 a.m. – 12 p.m., free light refreshments will be available to event-goers.
  • The first 100 guests will receive a reusable Royal Oak Farmers Market bag and will be entered into a raffle to win farmers market prizes including market bucks, which can be redeemed by vendors at the farmers market.
• 9 a.m., yoga class led by Namaste Yoga – those interested in the class can sign up at www.namaste-yoga.net/schedule.
• 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. Toyology will host a “Pop up Park,” complete with children’s activities, refreshments, arts and crafts, games and more.
  • Royal Oak City Mayor Mike Fournier will make brief remarks during the afternoon’s celebration.

"We're truly excited to show off the new 11 Mile parking deck with a grand opening event to thank our residents for their patience during construction," said Davids. "We're working closely with our friends at the Royal Oak Farmers Market and Library to have fun giveaways and family-friendly activities to entice people to stop by and check out downtown."

The Royal Oak DDA is offering free parking to patrons of the 11 Mile, Center Street, North Lafayette and South Lafayette garages every Thursday, Friday and Saturday starting June 6, 2019 through June 30, 2019 to celebrate the 11 Mile garage’s opening. The DDA is also supporting free pedicab rides, provided by Skoop, for the public Thursday through Sunday every week in June, to help residents and visitors get to their destinations throughout the downtown area.

The parking garage is a part of the comprehensive Rethink Royal Oak project – which also includes a new City Hall, Police Station and downtown park – and is 40 percent complete. Learn more about the Rethink Royal Oak project and latest development updates at www.rethinkro.com.