Some students may remember searching for a parking space in the Chick Evans Field House parking lot for more than half an hour while trying to avoid pedestrians and other cars. The reconstructed parking lot provides new pedestrian walkways and one-way entrances and exits.

Before construction on lots 20 and 20/C, a total of 427 parking spaces were available. The lots contain a total of 456 spaces with a larger motorcycle parking area, said Laura Lundelius, coordinator of parking and traffic. The lots do not have meter parking.

The design

Plans for the project began after a parking study was conducted by Walker Parking Consultants in March 2005.

“These lots were in very poor shape,” Lundelius said. “We were experiencing traffic and safety issues, so a request was made to reconstruct these lots.”

A pedestrian walkway was also added, running from the northwest corner to the southeast, since many students walk in this direction.

The lot also will contain a new entrance and exit at the north end of Lucinda Avenue, which will be “right-in and right-out only,” Lundelius said. This feature is designed to help alleviate congestion from the previous design’s single exit onto Stadium Drive. Parking spaces are now diagonal, with traffic going in one direction to help slow down traffic within the lot.

Funded by Campus Parking Services, the completed project was estimated to cost over $700,000, said Jim Murphy, campus planning coordinator at NIU.

Campus Parking Services was unable to be reached for comment on the specific sources of funding for the project.

Local contractor Elliott & Wood Inc., as well as several subcontractors, including Curran Contracting Co., Finney’s Electric and Daring Landscaping, all worked on the project, Murphy said. Chad Daring, owner of Daring Landscaping, based in Maple Park, said he and his workers were laying sod over about 4,500 square yards of the parking lot area for four days. He said the landscaping alone cost about $22,000.

“By the time the excavators came in and tore up the parking lot and the curbs, it was all destroyed,” Daring said. “So, this is a fresh, new look.”

Student reaction

Christopher Bates, a senior pre-communication major, said he thinks there are pros and cons to the reconstruction, but that overall, it’s a good idea.

“I think it’s necessary that there is [more room for pedestrians to cross],” Bates said. “Last year, when people were being dropped off, people might be in front of cars and I think that sometimes made drivers mad.”

Unlike Bates, Cameron Small, a senior health education major, was not pleased with the reconstruction.

“I think it’s a total waste of money,” Small said. “We don’t really need more construction on the parking lot when certain departments can’t even afford paper at NIU.” As for pedestrians, Small thinks they should simply “look out for a car and move the other way.”

Stephanie Collins, a junior finance major, said the parking lot reconstruction was a good idea. Collins said the walkway will make it safer for students passing through.