This story in the Chicago Tribune says it all. Schools in the Chicago area are renting parking spaces to those living in surrounding areas who need after hours space.
This is as it should be. The parking spaces in schools are used about six hours a day. The rest of the time they are empty. One school rents out 162 spaces at $90 a month and takes in $175 000. That can buy a lot of books and other supplies. The 162 neighbors of the school love it. The land gets proper use. Frankly I can see no downside.
However, I am certain that the ACLU or some such organization will scream bloody murder that using parking spaces at schools for parking is against the constitution and all the good will be erased by greedy lawyers. We can only hope that cooler heads will prevail.
Now, if the neighborhoods where there are parking around schools would only do the reverse and let students and teachers park there for a cost we will really have something going.
JVH
