FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The University of Arkansas is on track to see record enrollment this semester. With over 33,000 students, comes less parking.
Brooklyne Goad, a sophomore commuter studying biology on the pre-med track, said she has noticed a major difference in parking availability since her freshman year.
"I had to leave my house 45 minutes before my first class to take into account parking, catching a bus, and taking it up to the union," she said. "Now, I'm looking at at least an hour and 15 minutes early that I have to leave my house, if not an hour and a half early. And even then, I've still been late to a first class."
Goad purchased a $120 parking permit both years, giving her access to multiple lots on campus. And still, she has little to no success in finding parking.
"It's gotten to the point that I've had to go to one of the garages and pay for more parking after already paying for a permit," she said. "Even then, sometimes the garages are full. So, if the garages are full, the lots are full, what are students supposed to do?"
She and many other students and parents have some ideas for a solution.
"Maybe if everybody has their own designated spot, or we need to consider another parking garage somewhere," Goad said.
Drew Watzke with university communications said the school recognizes as more students are admitted every year, they will need to increase options.
"We have undergone a study that is evaluating our campus parking infrastructure," Watzke said. "There's potential that coming out of that study, we will explore some additional parking construction. I think that's a very real possibility."
Watzke said the study should be released in the next few months. But in the meantime, he said students can park in lot 500 just south of campus.
He said the first couple of weeks of school are always the biggest challenge and parking will get better as the semester goes on. He encourages all students that can, to walk or take the shuttle to classes.
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