{"id":915,"date":"2025-09-05T08:05:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-05T08:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stuorgs2.gcc.edu\/thecollegian\/2025\/09\/05\/2025-09-05-problematic-parking-persists\/"},"modified":"2026-10-06T23:10:05","modified_gmt":"2026-10-06T23:10:05","slug":"2025-09-05-problematic-parking-persists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stuorgs2.gcc.edu\/thecollegian\/2025\/09\/05\/2025-09-05-problematic-parking-persists\/","title":{"rendered":"Problematic parking\u00a0persists"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Mia Gallagher<\/a> · Sports Editor<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"As
As the college plans for the construction of the new baseball field, Campus Safety limits parking permits issued to students. \u2014 JOHN REMANIAK<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An overcrowded parking lot. Over a dozen orange parking warnings dancing in the wind. A department doing its best to accommodate the needs of its constituents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once an overhyped problem that students merely complained about, the parking situation on upper campus has become a dire situation \u2013 one that Campus Safety has taken steps to combat ahead of the baseball field construction later this fall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a turn of events, on Aug. 26, Grove City College Campus Safety announced plans to halt the sale of upper campus resident student parking permits. This decision, made in consideration of the expected lot closures occurring later this fall, has become just another part of a parking problem saga the department has been dealing with for the last few years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Campus Safety sent out an email early in the summer to notify students of the issue and provide a solution: a free, long-term parking lot. This unprecedented move made use of the college-owned lot on the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Harvard Street, offering upperclassmen residents a free alternative and seemingly providing a workable solution to the parking problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We initially limited this free option to those who had previously registered a vehicle on campus so as to avoid encouraging more students to bring their car to campus for a free permit. … We have substantial space remaining at the Lincoln Avenue Center and the potential to expand to the lot on the opposite side of the building if needed,” Director of Campus Safety Seth Van Til said. “Campus Safety also offers an escort service from dusk to dawn. This service includes escorting to or from the “long-term lot,” he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But with resident student and freshmen permit sales skyrocketing, leading to an overcrowded and unmanageable parking situation, Campus Safety elected to stop selling permits to park on upper campus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We do not currently know how many spaces may be needed for this project. Construction project details are still being finalized, and I would not want to speculate on what may or may not happen in that regard,” Van Til said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The operations team is aware of our parking needs and has discussed the possibility of exchanging the spaces they will need with those in the current contractor lot, pending approval from the borough,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While some may argue that Campus Safety did not end permit sales early enough or that they could have foreseen the lot reaching capacity this quickly, the department had anticipated the potential of the issue and took action in attempt to remedy it in advance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We have been working diligently to prepare for possible changes due to the baseball project. We increased the freshman permit fee as a deterrent to bringing a car. We created the long-term permits to both give students a less expensive option and in hopes of creating additional space in on-campus lots,” Van Til said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To further combat the problem, Campus Safety has offered current resident student permit holders the opportunity to return their current permit for a full refund and a free permit in the Lincoln Avenue Lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We had a significant number of students who wanted to exchange their long-term permits for on-campus parking. Students who are interested in exchanging a paid on-campus permit for a free long-term permit may still do so,” Van Til said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The purchase of a parking permit provides the holder with access to available parking. It is not a guarantee to park in a preferred location. If on-campus resident student parking spaces are full, resident students will need to park in available long-term parking spaces \u2013 not in employee, commuter or Colonial Hall lots,” he explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the parking problem is far from solved, Van Til stressed that Campus Safety is doing its part to accommodate the needs of the campus community. As baseball field construction begins, the department will update students about parking and other safety information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite Campo’s efforts, students are frustrated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The parking situation has tremendously hindered my experience as a resident permit holder on upper campus, especially as a student who needs to access my car daily to attend nursing clinicals and an off-campus job,” junior Taylor Blythe said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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