Campus parking officials are experimenting with eased restrictions at a lot near Southwest Recreation Center.
Students can now park in the lot on the west side of Bledsoe Drive an hour earlier than before: at 2:30 p.m. The lot has 149 spaces.
“It’s something we have talked about for some time: to try and find a solution where we can have parking options out here,” said Director of Recreational Sports David Bowles.
But it was the students on the board of directors at RecSports who mentioned the idea again and persuaded UF Director of Transportation and Parking Services Scott Fox to change the time.
“I hope this accommodation makes it easier for students to access the Southwest Rec Center,” Fox said.
The time change took effect last week and will continue until the end of Summer B.
Transportation and Parking Services staff will then determine whether to continue it during the Fall, but RecSports would continue to fund it through the activity and service fees Student Government allocates.
Student Body president-elect Christina Bonarrigo said it will cost $934 to move the parking restriction time an hour earlier through Summer B and $2,046 to permanently extend the time for the next year.
Emily Daniels thinks the time change will be convenient for students.
“Maybe this will encourage more students to utilize Southwest,” said the 21-year-old UF psychology junior. “It really is a luxury for us, as students, to have such a nice gym with so much to offer.”
