The Advance

Issue date: 8/31/07 Section: News

Finally, after two years of planning, the new parking lot by the Science Hall will be completely finished in less than a month.

Two years ago, while making plans for the new student center, Kansas Wesleyan University was also struggling with places for students to park since enrollment was steadily increasing.
"Basically we have always been short on parking and with the increase in enrollment we needed to add parking," said Darrell Victory, Physical Plant Director.

The University decided to help solve a portion of the parking problem by extending the Science Hall parking lot. The new parking lot is close to the new student center so parking should not be as hard to find when the center opens. The new lot will also help benefit off campus students that park near the Science Hall.

Before being extended, the parking lot had 14 spaces altogether. It now has 42 regular parking spaces and 2 handy cap spaces making a total of 44 parking spaces.
However some students, on and off campus, feel as if the new parking spaces are not a benefit to them at all.

"It doesn't really help or affect me at all. I use the Pfeiffer lot. That's one of the lots that need to be extended," said Samantha Philbrick, on campus sophomore.
"I use the Pioneer parking lot, if I can ever get a spot. So, no, the new parking lot isn't a benefit at all to me," said Irma Diaz, off campus sophomore.
However, the University is very aware of the parking shortage and has tentative plans to solve the problem.

"We (KWU) are working with the Union Pacific Railroad and the City of Salina to close off Fourth Street and have angle parking along side it," said Victory.
The University also has plans to add parking on Ninth and Cloud and near the Martin Stadium.

The last of the concrete was laid last week and it should take 21 days before it is fully ready for parking. Therefore, in less then a month, the campus will have added 44 new parking spots.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools