Students race to find parking on campus

As Palm Beach Atlantic University enrollment has increased, students are struggling to find parking. With limited space in downtown West Palm Beach and ongoing construction on campus, many students say finding a parking spot often feels like a game of chance.

“I leave 30 minutes before class just to find parking, and even then, I sometimes have to circle the lot multiple times or park blocks away,” said PBA senior Lacy Marty. “It’s stressful, and it adds unnecessary pressure to an already busy day.”

Commuter students often cannot find a parking spot after arriving on campus during peak class hours. Many have resorted to metered street parking or nearby city garages, which come with added costs and, sometimes, parking tickets. 

“I got a parking ticket from the city last month because I had no choice but to park in a spot that was unclear about timing,” said Karen Vasquez, a PBA psychology major. “We shouldn’t be penalized just for trying to get to class on time.”

The university has mentioned potential long-term plans to increase parking options through future campus development projects. President Debra Schwinn announced their newest building plan to students on April 17. 

“I'm excited to share that the City Commission has approved PBA’s proposal for a new on-campus residence hall and parking garage. This means we can create more space for you to live, learn, and grow in our community,” Schwinn wrote in an email to students and faculty.

Although PBA is planning to expand parking and residence halls in the future, students are still concerned about the current parking situation. Students say they would welcome more transparency and communication from the university on how and when those changes might come.

“I think we all understand that space is limited downtown,” said Mason Wagner, a junior at PBA. “But we just want to see that the university is planning ahead and communicating with us. It would be great to know that they’re not just listening—but actually acting on it.”

In the meantime, PBA administration recommends that students try to arrive early, stay informed about parking lot availability and use Campus Safety’s escort service when walking from distant locations after dark.

While no overnight solution exists, parking has become a larger conversation on campus and is receiving more attention. As PBA continues to grow, students hope that their daily search for a parking spot will become less of a race and more of a routine.

By Chloe Nepveux