Ah, the infamous BHS senior lot… notoriously known for the tiny spaces, frankly awful parking jobs, car crashes, and steeply-priced parking passes. Some seniors even reject the lot and just park along Fourteenth or Marine, weighing the risk of a two-hour parking ticket against the high cost of a parking pass. The senior lot, supposed to be a privilege for our upperclassmen, is more of a nightmare than a dream.
And yet, hundreds of underclassmen dream of one-day parking in that cramped, confusing lot… so why don’t we endorse those freshmen’s dreams and give them something to actually look forward to? I introduce to you… Senior Spot Painting.
In thousands of schools across the nation, it is a classic tradition for seniors on the first day of their last year of high school to claim and paint their own designated senior parking space in the lot. The colorful lot created is a symbol of the school community, artistic expression, and a way for seniors to give back to their school by beautifying the campus.
Will it magically fix the parking jobs in the lot? Probably not. But decorated and designated senior spaces can take the confusion out of finding a parking space in the morning by allocating a specific spot for each car, and maybe even make the parking pass more worth the cost if it buys a DIY-decorated space instead of just a place to leave your car.
Many Colorado high schools decorate their senior lots, including Loveland, East, and Pine Creek, to name a few. At Pine Creek High School in Colorado Springs, the school board turned senior spot painting into a fundraiser for After-Prom, with each student donating a small fee to the After-Prom fund in order to claim a space to decorate. However, there are currently no other schools in BVSD that practice Senior Spot Painting, thus,following Boulder High’s slogan, “Still the First,” this gives BHS the opportunity to demonstrate our students’ art abilities and stand out among other BVSD schools (including Fairview, just saying!). Plus, it’s fun! Some schools hold competitions or award prizes to the best-decorated senior spaces, providing a chance for seniors to create a parking lot we all can be proud of.
Roaming the halls of BHS, you’ll likely encounter student-made murals or art pieces hanging on almost every wall. Why not express our students’ individuality and talent outside the building as well? With Boulder High’s emphasis on community and expression, perhaps Senior Spot Painting is a tradition that could show the Boulder community and the nation who Boulder Panthers are, and create a parking lot that is more fun than hassle to park in.
