Parking services feels your pain; changes coming to Central

Lexi Popich, Staff Reporter

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Taylor Simental/Observer

For years Central students have griped about the lack of parking spots and expensive parking passes.

Though there is some argument whether the problem is an actual lack of parking or just laziness among students, in this case, it seems that lack of parking is the real issue.

It’s no secret that every weekday, starting at around 8 a.m., finding a parking spot on campus becomes a tedious and almost impossible task.

Twitter user Kazia Starkenburg tweeted, “Few things I’m over; Being cold, men wearing women’s leggings at the gym, being cold, CWU parking, and being cold.”

For those who live off campus, finding a parking spot requires students to leave their houses 30 minutes or more before class just to increase their chances of finding a parking spot.

Another Central student took to twitter to complain about the lack of parking. Diego O’Brien tweeted out, “Yeah CWU we didn’t need more parking or a bigger weight room, we needed a new science building. Cause so many top scientists here.”

Bill Yarwood, executive director for Capital Planning and Projects, said he recognizes that parking and transportation are concerns on campus and that they need to be addressed and updated.

Yarwood said he and his colleagues at Facilities Management are in the process of updating Central’s master plan.

They’re looking into areas around campus that have parking needs and are working together to make sure that the new parking will work in relation to the current planning and building around campus, according to Yarwood.

Several meetings will take place next week with the administration to compose a revised draft of the master plan, he said.

“Parking is definitely an issue, and it’s an issue that is going to be addressed,” Yarwood said.

A key part of the success of the plan is specific feedback and constructive criticism from students. Complaining that “parking sucks” simply will not do, Yarwood said.

Yarwood said they need to know specific concerns in order to make adequate changes to parking.

Yarwood said he is not only looking into adding parking spots, but also updating the permits and usage of the existing lots.

Many students who live off campus choose to trudge through the snow and slush just to avoid paying for the yearly $300 parking pass.

“I never buy passes anymore because, when I do, I can never find a spot,” said Kaitlin Pfeifer, senior double major in Spanish and supply chain management.

Pfeifer said she believes Parking Services oversells parking passes for the amount of parking spaces provided on campus.

However, not every student feels the parking pains.

Maryellen Hammrich, freshman education major, thinks parking is fine and hasn’t come across any major issues with it.

Hammrich said she doesn’t mind buying a parking pass because she can just charge it to her student account, rather than paying for it straight out of her own pocket.

Hammrich said she “always seems to find a spot.”

Hammrich’s outlook on parking may seem rare because many students aren’t satisfied.