HARRISONBURG, VA (Rocktown Now) — The City of Harrisonburg will soon begin work renovating the historic Municipal Building connected to City Hall, which will require parking changes to the nearby lot between Main Street and Liberty Street around the Turner Pavilion.

Parking permits will no longer be available for purchase in the lot starting January 1, 2027. This will impact approximately 58 parking spaces on the northern side of the lot (toward Bruce Street) where City Hall employees will start parking in 2027 (in yellow). An additional 77 spaces on the southern end of the lot (closest to Turner Pavilion) will be converted to two-hour public parking spaces, while the 47 spaces immediately in front of City Hall will remain two-hour public parking spaces (in blue). Additional minor changes to nearby parking spaces also will take place to allow for construction activities.

According to Harrisonburg Director of Communications and Public Engagement Michael Parks, the Municipal Building was formerly where City departments worked prior to City Hall being built in 2015. The plan at that time was to immediately start renovations on the Municipal Building after City Hall opened, but other capital project priorities emerged and delayed the project. Now, with space in City Hall being at capacity and the need for increased offices, meeting rooms and community service areas, renovations to the Municipal Building will begin in 2027.

“We recognize these changes will be imperfect for those who live, work, and spend time in our expanding and changing urban core,” Harrisonburg Deputy City Manager Amy Snider, the City Hall Complex Renovation project manager, said. “As new uses are introduced in the coming years, we will navigate with the community and adjacent properties how to offer public parking opportunities in our dense and historic urban core as it continues to develop.”

The 58 spaces assigned to City Hall employees will only be reserved for employees from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday. These will be available as free public parking between 5 p.m. and 8 a.m. during weekdays, and all hours Saturday and Sunday. The 2-Hour parking spaces will be restricted to two-hours only from Monday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. They are free to use for an unlimited amount of time during all other hours, unless there is a special event happening in the area such as the Farmer’s Market.

More information about Downtown parking and other nearby spaces can be found at Parking | City of Harrisonburg, VA.