The Future of Campus Parking

With record enrollment for Bluefield College and near capacity numbers in BC residence halls, parking on campus has become more challenging than ever.

Josh Arnold, associate vice president for student development said the administration is aware of the challenge and already considering ways to address the issue. He said he and the rest of Student Development are considering strategies as the college continues to grow.

“Proposals have been suggested, such as limiting freshmen from having cars on campus,” said Arnold. “However, I don’t think we’re quite there yet. Fortunately, we will break ground any day now on a new parking addition adjacent to Rish Hall, which will add 31 new parking spots to campus.”  This addition is now underway.

Gary Ruth, director of campus safety, agreed that restricting parking for on-campus freshmen is not the ideal solution and that his office has no plans in the near future to deny residential freshmen parking spots.

“Wednesday afternoon when lunch is being served is the hardest time to find parking due to the number of people from the community coming to campus for the $3 lunch,” said Ruth. “Students complain when they are given a citation that there’s not enough parking. When I check there are always spaces near the tennis courts, lower lot of Bluestone Commons, and at the Dome.”

Ruth’s advice to residential students to help alleviate the parking problem is to park near where they live and walk everywhere on campus since it’s not that far of a walk.