Students at New Hartford Senior High School are very fortunate they are allowed to drive to and from school. Students are also grateful for the privilege of having off-campus lunch. These privileges make student parking important for everyone who has a vehicle. There are multiple parking lots for students to park at, but the New Hartford Central School District has its own parking lot provided for students behind the Spartans’ baseball field.
“Any student can park in that lot as long as they abide by the rules listed on the application. Any student who parks there must have their pass on display,” says Dean of Students Mr. Romanow. Passes can be found in the dean’s office that must be filled out in order to use.
A recent complaint concerns the parking lot behind the New Hartford Spartans Baseball field. Students have brought up that there are other people parking at that location without a pass. Not only that, senior J.P. Jerome who parks there, states, “…since students who are not seniors can park there now, this has made it way more crowded.”
J.P. isn’t the only student who doesn’t like it crowded. Junior Jack Taylor comments that there are “more people coming in from the rec center lot which has been a little annoying.”
The New Hartford Recreation Center parking lot next to the high school is open to students who buy a pass. This is one of the other parking areas for students that is not owned by the school. Recently, the Town of New Hartford has ticketed people who parked there without a pass which has caused more students to park in the lot behind the baseball field.
“I have not had many issues with the student lot at all this year. I think as more students get passes, it becomes more congested,” Mr. Romanow said.
Being a senior, J.P. Jerome believes the parking lot should “be a senior privilege” only. He also recommends, “We should also be able to leave for lunch from there.”
When parking behind the baseball field, students are currently not allowed to leave for lunch. Students who park in lots not regulated by the school are currently allowed to drive during their off-campus lunch period.
J.P. and Jack both appreciate that parking is free, but say it would be better if it were a paved lot.
J.P. suggests, “They should pave it so that it is nice and smooth.”
However, Jack’s complaint is that there are “no painted parking spots.”
“I hope to someday be able to get lines in the lot to help with making sure students park in an organized and safe way,” Mr. Romanow says.
With all the cons, students list that the big pro of parking there is that it’s free.
