 "Photo: JESS KEMP, THE VOLANTE, 2010")
USD’s plans to remove 200 parking spaces in front of I.D. Weeks Library this summer to allow for more green space on campus has students concerned that finding parking will be a problem next fall.
Sophomore Tyler Olsen said he thinks the project will create more problems with parking.
“Parking is difficult around here anyway and removing it is just going to create more of a hassle,” Olsen said.
The removal of these spaces will only be a temporary loss to campus, though. As Coyote Village is finished, a new commuter lot will be built next to the new residence hall to supplement the loss of spaces on campus. The total cost of the new parking lot, which will feature 262 spaces, along with the removal of spaces near the MUC, is estimated at $1 million. Though the parking lot was scheduled to be demolished by the 2009-2010 fall semester, the project was delayed in order to finish Coyote Village.
Olsen, who will be living off campus next semester, said the replacement lot near Coyote Village would only be a further inconvenience to students.
Director of Planning and Construction Cathy Wagner said the construction is set to begin soon after the spring semester ends.
“Most likely it will be late May or early June depending on when a contractor can mobilize,” Wagner said.
Freshman McKayla Knudson said she believes the university already has enough green space.
“I think if something isn’t broken, you shouldn’t try to fix it,” Knudson said. “We’ve got plenty of green space and our campus looks nice as it is.”
Wagner said the extra space was needed in order to host more student activities on campus.
“We have very distinct plans for the green space,” Wagner said. “A big, open area was important according to our investigation for student activites and other functions. “
Wagner said the university is trying to address parking needs as best they can.
“We are truly trying to make this a walking campus and also deal with the parking issues (on campus),” Wagner said. “We’re seeing parking needs on the south and north ends of campus and we’re trying to address them all.”
Dean of Libraries Anne Moore declined to comment on this story, but Moore told The Volante in March she doesn’t anticipate a change in foot traffic in the library, although she says the issue of transportation needs to be addressed.
“When you create a walking campus, it is safe, attractive and comfortable,” Moore said. “It would be beautiful to have that green space, but the missing link is transportation.”
Mindy Baylor, USD parking and Traffic Committee chair, said this idea has been considered before, but nothing concrete has been proposed yet.
“Officially, there have not been any proposals made,” Baylor said. “The parking committee has gotten together and had some discussions on what the possibilities would be.”
Baylor said a survey would be going out to all students and staff of USD within the week to gather feedback on what they’d like to see done with parking and transportation in the future.
“We’re trying to get some feedback from everyone as to what they would like to see done,” Baylor said. “We have to have a proposal made to the president sometime this summer so we can get something established before students come back in the fall.”
Reach reporter Rob Nielsen at Rob.Nielsen@usd.edu.
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