Aliso Niguel students have two options when it comes to parking; they can either pay $60 per semester to park in the school parking lot, or they can find spots on Wolverine Way or Deerhurst free of charge.
While both spots have their pros and cons, is the amount charged for parking passes really beneficial for students safety, comfort and convenience?
Wolverine Way is just outside of campus and considered a pretty grueling walk for students arriving to and from school. Not to mention, the spots near the front are often taken by students who arrive early for zero period.
It does serve one major benefit, it’s completely free and accessible! While inconvenient it helps students avoid post dismissal traffic which could be a major worry for students who work or have important activities after school.
“I love it! I have zero period so I always park close to the gates and I don’t need to worry about the parking lot maze. To leave it takes five to ten minutes tops so even on the busiest days I just drive out and it’s perfect,” states Fran McVerry (12).
Even those who don’t get nearby parking spots express their appreciation for the hills simply because of the speed at which they get to leave.
The parking lot is also no stranger to inconvenient parking. With the first come first serve concept, zero period students automatically get an advantage when it comes to parking spots. Meaning students are paying tons of money to park far from their first periods, and they deal with the extra hour it takes to leave campus, unless they have a free period.
“It’s so frustrating honestly, I originally bought the parking pass so I could get to school at a decent time and not have to worry about a far spot, but it’s like I need to show up an hour early to get a good spot, just to wait another hour to leave! So frustrating,” adds Sarah Smith (12).
Safety was a major concern when it came to parking and it was another reason so many purchased the pass. The hope was that students wouldn’t have to worry about car damages or their belongings.
This criteria applies to the hill as well, with very few complaints of any car damages or lost belongings in the last year.
“I park on the hill, and safety is never something I worry about. The parking lot is mostly students and newer drivers, so I’ve heard way more about accidents in the parking lot than I ever have about Deerhurst parking. Honestly, if you’re just mindful about leaving your spot and are a careful parker you have nothing to worry about,” says Al Kuznetsov (12).
While Aliso staff is committed to keeping the parking lot safe and convenient, when roughly one third of students are parking or being dropped off in the lot area, it’s very hard to keep everything under control all the time.
Hill parking may not be convenient all the time and may require some earlier arrival times; however, it’s more beneficial to students who are looking for a free parking option with faster departure times.
