By USAG Stuttgart Public Affairs
Stuttgart military community members are advised to prepare for impacts to parking and vehicle access at Panzer Kaserne as crews set up for the annual Independence Day celebration.
The first scheduled impact will be on the Panzer Exchange parking lot beginning June 18. Spaces along the perimeter of the lot and some spaces throughout the parking lot will be blocked off so that cherry pickers can place banners advertising the Independence Day Celebration. These banners will be removed on July 6.
Additional impacts to parking and access starting at 1 a.m. on June 24 when vehicle parking between buildings 2914/2915 (554th MP Company and MWR/ACS/USO building) and buildings 2917/2918 (CYS gym/old Patch on Panzer Elementary School) will be limited.
At 1 a.m. on Thursday, June 25, parking will be suspended on the MWR lemon lot and the adjacent row of parking in the main Exchange lot. Parking in the rear of Building 2914 and 2915 is also suspended at this time.
Beginning at 1 a.m. on Friday, June 26, the Panzer Main Exchange parking lot and the streets along it, as well as in front of Building 2913 (Welcome Center) will close. Traffic will be rerouted to the street between Buildings 2917 and Building 2996 (Vet Clinic).
The remainder of the Exchange parking lot and parking in front of U.S. Marines Corps Forces, Europe and Africa (MARFOREUR/AF) will be blocked beginning at 1 a.m. on June 27.
All impacted lots will remain closed until the morning of June 28.
While the Independence Day celebration is not scheduled to begin until 3 p.m. on June 27, crews need time and space to set up for activities safely. The phased closure of roads and parking lots assists greatly with the effort, USAG Stuttgart Directorate of Emergency Services Chief of Police Mark Pursel said.
“Let’s work together as one community to enjoy a safe and fun-filled event,” Pursel said. “We encourage you to read the safety and parking information carefully, follow the guidelines, and report any unsafe or suspicious activity to the Military Police or Polizei. Most importantly, have a spectacular Independence Day celebration!”
People conducting business at the main Exchange the week of the event should expect less parking than normal. People conducting business at the main Exchange on June 26 should expect no parking in the main lot.
Parking for the event itself will be EXTREMELY limited. Garrison officials are encouraging people who live on Patch, Kelley, or Robinson Barracks to ride duty buses, which will be running a special schedule on June 27. You can check out the schedule here. All local nationals are required to arrive on foot and encouraged to take public transportation.
You can find additional information about the event in this article and on the Stuttgart Family & MWR website.