FHS has one student parking lot, with a limited amount of parking spaces. To obtain a parking spot, students must sign paperwork at the beginning of the school year, granting their eligibility to receive a reserved parking space for the entire year. While having a parking spot is useful, there simply are not enough parking spaces to accommodate the entire student driving population.
Although parking spaces are convenient, they are also limited, as FHS’s parking lot is fairly small compared to the number of student drivers. The current system for distributing parking spaces allows students who live farther away from school to have first priority for parking spots, then allows students who live closer to school to enter a first come-first serve raffle for the remaining spots in the lot.
“I think that the system they have is understandable,” FHS senior Sophia Harvey said. “My drive to school can range from a 20 to 30-minute ride, so I already have to leave my house pretty early and not having to worry about parking is reassuring.”
One appeal of parking in the FHS student parking lot is the convenience during lunchtime. Students often drive to restaurants to eat during lunch, so having an accessible car can be helpful.
“I like being able to have a longer lunch because I [do not] have to go off campus to get my car,” Harvey said. “Also, I like not having to worry about finding a parking spot. Having my own parking space is super useful.”
While there are several benefits to the parking lot, the system does have some pitfalls. Not every student driver is able to obtain a spot in the parking lot. Many student drivers who do not have parking spaces are unhappy with the fact that they have to park on the streets surrounding FHS and choose to rebel.
“The only negative with the parking lot is that sometimes people steal your spot and it can get annoying,” Harvey said.
Although FHS has a designated drop-off and pick-up area in front of the school, some parents opt to pick up their students from the student parking lot. This causes congestion in the parking lot, as both student drivers and parent drivers try to move through. Many student drivers have become annoyed with the blockage.
“It can be a hassle getting out after school because of all the parents coming to pick up their kids,” Harvey said.
Overall, FHS’s parking situation is not perfect, due to the limited amount of spaces which forces students to park at a farther distance from school, congestion and fear of having one’s spot taken from them while school is still in session. Student drivers at FHS must either get lucky to get a parking spot, or they must park near FHS and spend precious time walking to their cars.
“I would recommend getting a parking spot because it is just so convenient and helps with saving time,” Harvey said.
