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A new plan is set to go before the Board of Trustees regarding the renovation of Stansbury Park, which sits across Third Street from Ekstrom library. The proposals include an amphitheater, a sculpture garden, and an eatery, as well as improvements to the existing sports facilities.
It is certainly encouraging that the university continues to improve its main campus for students, faculty and staff. However, new proposals for the renovation of Stansbury Park may be ignoring some of the more glaring problems facing the university community.
While student interaction is integral to student life, it is difficult to imagine that anyone would walk to a park on the periphery of campus to congregate. The worst case scenario is a revamped, expensive Stansbury Park that students and the community use as little as they do the current one. Plans for an amphitheater in the park might draw more people to arts events at the venue, but still the place would see little use outside of the summer season when most students aren’t even on campus.
Likewise, the lack of amphitheaters and sculpture gardens on campus generally fail to top the list of student complaints about the university. The lack of dining options, however, is higher up on that list. Plans to add a new cafeteria-style venue or other hub for the hungry may make the renovations worthwhile, and should be considered by students before turning their noses up at the project altogether.
Still, students who are concerned about the proposed use of the valuable real estate should be heard. It is no secret that Belknap campus is landlocked, and the only ways to expand are by building up our buying out.
Though not the most aesthetically pleasing option, at least some of the land occupied by Stansbury Park might make a nice home for a new parking lot or garage. This would help the parking problems that have long plagued the campus and daily send students circling the full Floyd Street garage in search of open parking spaces. Perhaps a new garage would mean students who pay for green parking passes could actually park on campus all the time instead of being booted to the stadium when the current garage is full.
Whatever those spearheading the park project decide to do, they should make sure to include students in their decision. U of L students are the ones who will bring business to a new restaurant, live in a new dorm or attend events at a new amphitheater, and without student input on the project, the plans are just a gamble at new venues’ success.
Students, on the same note, should make sure to attend forums or contribute their ideas when the beautification committee and others involved in the park project offer the chance to do so.
