Originally published January 18, 2008 at 12:14 a.m., updated August 3, 2010 at 12:12 a.m.
A new parking program for students without yellow parking passes began yesterday at the Student Recreation and Fitness Center.
Previously, the recreation center’s parking lot only had spaces for yellow parking passes and spaces with parking meters. The new program will allot the row of spaces closest to the recreation center to students with a valid residence hall or Park & Ride pass. Students who park there have to go inside the recreation center to get a special pass to hang from their rearview mirror.
The new program will allot the row of spaces closest to the recreation center to students with a valid residence hall or Park & Ride pass.
Yellow parking passes are not available to incoming freshmen, and off-campus freshmen must use Park & Ride lots when parking to go to class.
For some students, like Elise Langtry, Prairie Village freshman, the program will help with a workout schedule. Langtry has a residence hall pass that previously was not valid during the day.
“I’m always afraid of parking,” Langtry said. “It would be so much more convenient than having to walk in the snow.”
Kevin Weingarten, St. Louis freshman and Hashinger Hall resident, goes to the recreation center often. Last semester, his schedule allowed him to work out at night. This semester, he wants to go during the day. He thinks the passes will be helpful and easy to use.
“If the parking is that close to the recreation center, it wouldn’t be that much a hassle to get the pass,” Weingarten said.
Other students think the new parking spots aren’t going to change anything.
Kevin Neslage, Wichita freshman, said he never goes to the recreation center during the day.
“If I go during the day, I’m probably going to walk anyway,” Neslage said.
Donna Hultine, director of the Parking Department, said the program was geared toward students who otherwise would not be able to park at the recreation center during the day. She said the program began as an experiment.
“My fear is that there won’t be that many students who use it from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.,” Hultine said.
Improving parking was a platform for United Students, and student body vice president Ray Wittlinger, Olathe senior, spoke to many students who thought parking at the recreation center was an issue.
“The recreation center is one of the places where all students congregate,” Wittlinger said. “The more students who are there, the better.”
The closest row to the recreation center has more than 40 spots that will be marked by signs for the program. A student with a valid residence hall or Park & Ride pass can park in the spots. Students must go inside to the entrance desk to get a tag that hangs over their rearview mirror and acts as a pass. The student can have the tag valid for up to three hours, and their desired time frame is written on the tag.
Checks are in place to prevent students abusing the system and going to class instead of to the recreation center.
Recreation center employees track the passes, and Parking Department employees will check for both a residence hall or Park & Ride pass and a valid tag within its time limit from the recreation center.
Students with yellow passes who park in the spots will get warning tickets at the beginning of the semester, as students get used to the new system. Eventually, students without the correct passes will get a $20 parking ticket.
Mary Chappell, director of the recreation services, said parking has been an ongoing problem.
“Any time we can assist students in opportunities and working out at the recreation center, we want to take a look,” Chappell said.
The program began Thursday as a pilot program for the semester.
— Edited by Russell Davies
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Recreation center makes parking easier
Is the headline a typo? Recreation?
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