Louisvillie students want to paint their parking spots

Carys Cheshire '24

Editor in Cheif of Content

In order to get a better understanding of where Louisville students stand on this matter, I sent out a survey to the entire student body and 92/319 responded. Even though the tradition would only be for seniors, I wanted input from everyone who would carry on the tradition, as well. 

The survey asked students whether or not they would paint their senior spots if they had the opportunity, and the data shows that 97 percent of them would. When asked why they would enjoy painting parking spots, they had a lot to say:

“I love art and would love to be able to express myself a little more. It would definitely be a core memory of my high school career at Louisville,” says Allison Gomez ’25. 

Gomez’s response was a popular one among the survey results as many of the students, in some way or another, emphasized that they would love to customize their own space and express who they are through art. 

 “It sounds like a super fun way to brighten up the campus and give an otherwise blank parking lot some color!” added Emilia Brown ’24. 

One thing that Louisville is known for is its beautiful campus with bright colors surrounding the buildings. However, most would agree that the least exciting and aesthetically pleasing part of campus is the senior parking lot. Painting the senior spots would add a splash of color to an area of our school that lacks personality. 

Additionally, many seniors pointed out how the numbers on the parking spots are extremely faded: 

“I think it would be fun and I also cannot find which spot is mine in the morning,” commented Bailey Funk ’24.

By painting the parking spots, finding the parking spot that belongs to you would become significantly easier. Also, some students commented that driving into school would have a new element of excitement as every day you can see the results of your creativity. 

Most of the Louisville students would love to start this senior tradition as a way to demonstrate their personalities. However, some students expressed their concerns with the idea: 

“My only concern would be figuring out which spot to paint if you share a tandem spot,” observed Brooke Freyer ’24.

Freyer brings up a valid point that the center section of the senior lot involves a system that could interfere with customizing spots. To elaborate, if a student gets to the lot before the student that they park in tandem with, then they pull forward into the further spot. Therefore, those students are not always guaranteed to park in the same spot every day. 

One solution to this issue could be that the seniors can drive through the drop-off section and park in their designated spots. However, the students who would have to do this might not want to deal with the traffic of the drop-off lanes. Then it becomes a matter of choosing between painting your parking spot or the shortcut to the senior lot. 

Also, some share an opinion with Mary Jansen ’27 who said, “I am lazy and feel I would be too busy to do it even if I wasn't.”

The concern is that finding the time to paint a spot seems unrealistic. With college applications and every other time-consuming activity that the seniors deal with, adding a new project to the list might be overwhelming. 

Some argued, though, that the painting would be a nice break from the stress of senior year, a chance to feel like kindergarteners again and to have a bonding experience with friends. 

Overall, the majority of the Louisville students that participated in my survey are all for the idea of painting senior parking spots. While some argue that logistically this may be difficult, the concept of adding vibrance and creativity to the drab parking lot is one that excites not just the seniors, but all classes of Louisville. 

Ultimately, as ASB and more continue to present the idea, at the end of the day, the decision is up to Louisville’s administration. The question is… will they ever approve it?