WOODBURY ー Nonnewaug High School’s parking lot is just like any other: very plain. Would pops of color on the ground bring excitement to NHS drivers?
The parking lots at Nonnewaug are just plain black spaces. But is the NHS administration opening up to the idea of allowing students to paint their parking spaces? And how do student drivers feel about if they gain that privilege?
In recent years, the Nonnewaug facility has been improved, including the repaved parking lots. NHS was renovated from 2017 until early 2021.
“Our parking lot was just redone a couple years ago as part of the renovation projects, so I think with the nice parking lot, [maintenance staff] is afraid it wouldn’t look as uniform as it does right now,” said NHS principal Mykal Kuslis. “We also just repainted all the lines, so I think the concern is kids painting over lines or numbers and it would be wasted money on that piece.”
The NHS facility looks well maintained, so administration must consider how it will look over the years and for future students. Senior Ellie McDonald believes that allowing upperclassmen to paint their parking spots according to their own theme would add a personal touch and would be an amazing senior experience.
“I think that student drivers should be able to paint their parking spots because it would create special memories,” said McDonald. “Also as a senior, it’s your last year of high school and you’ve been going to school with the majority of these kids for a while, and once you get to your senior year, it would be something to look forward to. You would get to express yourself and make the parking spot your own, and you would leave your mark in a way.”
At Nonnewaug not just seniors get the privilege to drive to school. Juniors do, too, and some are also interested in participating in the hope of painting their parking spots.
“It would help students bond over shared interests or themes, creating common ground and encouraging interactions between people,” said junior Eddie Longo.
Along with creating bonding experiences, Longo said allowing students to paint their spots inside the lines would give more benefits, including “promoting student creativity and boosting school spirit.”
Even though most Nonnewaug students would love the privilege to be able to paint their spots, some students would prefer not to take the time to participate in the activity and are perfectly fine with their blank parking space.
“I feel like I wouldn’t have any ideas to do,” said senior Trevor Santopietro, “and I wouldn’t have anytime to do it. It doesn’t really float my boat.”
