On 1 August, the University of Pretoria celebrated a significant milestone in its battle against restricted campus parking by unveiling a new secure parking facility. Hatfield campus, perpetually plagued by parking scarcity, now has a state-of-the-art parking lot that promises to alleviate the persistent congestion that has long frustrated students. The new bays enhance security and mark a significant leap forward in transforming the daily commuting experience for the UP community.
The approximately 160 well-designed parking bays are within the basement of UP’s Javett Art Centre, offering a much-needed solution to campus congestion. This modern facility is open to staff, students, and visitors alike, enhancing accessibility for all. Modelled similarly to the efficient Engineering 3 Parkade, this new parkade features a user-friendly ticket and payment machine system that accommodates cash and card transactions. Parking rates are aligned with the Engineering lot’s affordable pricing so that this addition is a convenient and cost-effective option for everyone on campus. The parkade is open Mondays to Fridays, with the exception of weekends and public holidays, from 06:00 to 18:00.
To gain more insight into this new development, PDBY spoke to Prof. Susan Adendorff, the director of Facilities Management. Prof. Adendorff stated that the basement parking was meant to be part of the Javett design from the outset. However, the parking was initially earmarked for staff only but was underutilised. Facilities Management then decided to convert the basement parking into public parking to alleviate some of the parking challenges faced by students.
To facilitate this public parking, management was required to install new equipment to allow for connectivity, which was only recently completed. The Javett basement parking allows students to access the Hatfield North and South campuses via a turnstile. Access to the South campus is direct, whereas access to the North section of Hatfield campus is via the bridge over Lynnwood Road, allowing students to cross the busy road safely.
Introducing the new secure parking facility at the Javett Art Centre marks a pivotal enhancement in addressing campus parking challenges at UP. By converting the underutilised basement space into a public parking area, UP has expanded accessibility and also demonstrated a keen responsiveness to the needs of its student community.
