Some DePaul Prep students have expressed concern about what they perceive as a lack of spaces in the school parking lots. DePaul Prep continues to grow as a community, expecting to enroll 1270 students in the 2023-2024 school year and 1400 in the 2024-2025 school year. With this growth, some students new to driving have said they have had trouble finding parking in the north or south lots.

However, a Ram Page investigation has found that there are currently more than enough parking spots for student drivers on campus.

Assistant Principal Joe Voss explained that there are more than enough spaces available, based on the number of parking tags that have been given out.

“195 parking tags have been issued to students and 145 to faculty/staff,” Voss said.

This makes a total of at least 340 known drivers at DePaul Prep, including the 17 visiting parking spaces that DePaul Prep provides for outside parties. 

“The total spaces on campus are 532, with 189 in the South Lot, 228 in the North, and 115 in the far North Lot,” Voss explained. 

With 340 spots occupied and 532 available, there are still 192 unoccupied spots. 

Although some students may argue that there are cars parked in spots that don’t have passes, there are too few cars parked without passes to create a detrimental lack of spots. 

When walking through the lot, I counted around 10-20 cars without passes in the north lot, still leaving around 172-182 spots available. 

School President Mary Dempsey explained that having enough parking is a required part of planning the school’s campus.

“We are part of a planned development for the City of Chicago and before we do any improvements, we have to bring that parking plan to the City of Chicago to get their approval to make sure that we don’t fall short on [parkingl,” Dempsey said. 

“I know that there are more parking spots than there are eligible drivers even at 1400 students because not all students drive,” Dempsey explained.

Perception of parking influenced by years of driving experience

Turning 16 and acquiring your driver’s license is an exciting accomplishment for all teenagers. It represents freedom and responsibility. For some students, this rite of passage comes with the new experience of trying to find a parking spot.

Sophomore and newly licensed Lauren Brown shared her experience. 

“I was really excited to take my car to school. It was a little frustrating though when I couldn’t find a spot,” she said. 

“I ended up having to go to the South lot and ended up being late and receiving a detention.” 

Junior and driver Hannah LeFebvre has seen the importance of timing when finding a parking spot.  

“I’ve made it my mission to get to school as early as possible to get a good spot. I find that a lot of the spots are taken or blocked if you come any time around 7:40,” LeFebvre said. 

Senior Delaney Kelly, who has been parking at DePaul Prep for over a year, agrees with Voss and Dempsey that there are plenty of parking spots available for students. 

“I have never had terrible trouble with parking. Sometimes the spots I end up in aren’t always convenient or close, but I always end up having a spot.” 

Kelly elaborated, “I also noticed that there’s some spots that are close that students don’t even think about. I think that in terms of parking there isn’t a major issue.”

Voss does understand students’ concerns about the spots that have become unavailable in the far north parking lot.

Voss stated, “This year because of the construction they had to move some dirt into some parts of the students North lot, so that took away some spots.” 

However, according to Voss, the spaces in the north lot that are currently occupied by construction materials should be open and ready for student use by the 2024-2025 school year.

Although there are some minor limitations on parking in the north lot as DePaul Prep’s new construction is underway, students can park in the south lot, which generally is rarely full.

Dempsey explained, “Students should not be worried about being late due to parking because they have the ability to park in the south lot as well and be able to walk through the doors prior to 7:45.” 

Although looking for a spot can feel frustrating for some student drivers, there is enough parking, even with some spots potentially being removed for the new gym construction in future years. 

Voss explained that only some spots will be removed from the lots for this building and the number will not significantly impact the spaces available.