Frustrations about parking rise at Manitou Springs High School
November 10, 2021
During the school week in the morning, both students and teachers alike go through the constant struggles of finding a parking spot at Manitou Springs High School.
Many students and staff agree that there are not enough parking spots available in the morning, and for those who have a late start, the frustration of finding a parking spot gets even worse.
“No matter what day it is, whether or not I have an early or late arrival in the morning, parking is always a pain,” said senior Luke Grieb. Grieb, who has a late start on his A days, said, “On my A days, I have to pray for a parking spot; and sometimes, I find myself being late to my class.”
Some individual drivers have also noted that many people have had awful parking jobs recently, whether that is crooked parking jobs or just people taking up more than one parking spot.
“The amount of times this year that I have parked next to someone crooked over the line has been ridiculous,” Dallen Alexander (12) said.
To combat the issue, many students have started parking alongside the road on the hill. Some have begun to create their very own parking spots. “If there is no parking, what am I going to do? Not park somewhere?” said Zion Harris (12).
While the school has issued warnings to specific individuals, most threats are taken lightly; and the illegal parking jobs have continued. Davis Mack (12) has also had many issues with the parking lot. “I get to school a couple of minutes before the bell rings and it is very hard and a lot of the student drivers don’t pay attention to their surroundings so when they open a door I feel nervous that they are going to hit my car and leave a scratch or dent,” Mack said.
School projects have impacted the parking lot as well. The house building project for construction has taken up about half a dozen usable parking spaces making parking even tighter.
As the problem with the parking lot increases day by day, some have expressed their ideas to improve it for now and the future.
Mr. Housley, a history teacher here at MSHS said, “There definitely are not enough parking spots. I think we should consider numbering parking spots and allowing students who have a parking pass to choose a spot. That would probably be a good start to helping the parking situation, and for those students who do not have a parking pass, it would give them a good initiative to get one.”
emily • Mar 7, 2022 at 1:40 pm
In my opinion there is definitely not enough parking for teachers or students. I hate having to park on the hill when I have late arrival because there is no parking in the actual parking lot. when they go around and give out parking violations for being illegally parked its just crazy to me that they would put those on our cars when its very easy to tell there is no parking. even when you park on the hill your most of the time parking so far down you mine as well park at the middle school or just out on the main road.
robbie • Mar 2, 2022 at 1:29 pm
There is not a lot of Parking spaces. Lots of people park on the hill in front of the school. I don’t think parking would be an issue if people didnt get tickets for doing it. I think that would a good solution. Because I dont think they can expand the parking lot.
Eryn H (12) • Feb 25, 2022 at 9:05 am
In the mornings I arrive at school ten to fifteen minutes early just to get a spot. There’s been countless of times where my friends have received parking tickets for “parking illegally”. This can be very inconvenient. The school has plans to expand the buildings, which would interfere into the parking lot and, in my opinion, we don’t have room to compromise the places for students to park. I think the school should definitely work on providing more space for students to park.
James Mitchell • Feb 22, 2022 at 1:17 pm
Fortunately, I don’t drive my own car yet, but the amount of people who do and complain about the parking spaces is nuts. Not only are finding parking spaces annoying but leaving and entering the parking lot is a pain. Twice the car I was in almost got hit while we were coming in. I very much agree with what Mr. Housley said about it, as that could help with the problem.