Community Commentary -- Julianne Koch

I am writing regarding the parking problem at Newport Harbor High

School (“Newport Harbor High parking stirs debate,” April 10).

Although I am not on any “committee” or part of the “team” responsible

for coming up with a resolution to this problem, the Community Commentary

from Meridee Thompson was the first I’ve read on the subject that has

made any sense (“Newport Harbor parking problems simply need thought,”

April 16).

I am genuinely curious as to why we continue to bus kids to Newport as

if the next closest school were 300 miles away? I am not aware of all the

options that have been studied before coming up with a parking structure,

but the structure sounds like a last resort.

I must ask if there has been any census taken to find out how many

students we have at Newport who live in the vicinity of Estancia, Costa

Mesa and Corona del Mar high schools. If we start by simply sending these

kids to the schools that are right around the corner from their homes, we

might alleviate part of the problem.

We need to educate new student drivers on options: 1. Do they need to

drive? 2. parking options; 3. car-pooling incentives; 4. perhaps moving

the tennis courts to where the junior parking lot is located, and moving

the junior parking lot to where the tennis courts are located, which

would make it more desirable for the students to use. The students are

aware of the problem; request their input.

I live on the peninsula, so I have nothing to gain by commenting on

the intrusiveness this structure would cause the residents in the area. I

am only aware of the problem because I’ve dropped off and picked up my

daughter for the last three years.

I find it hard to believe that a parking structure is part of a

resolution to the overcrowding at Newport Harbor High. Why would anyone

want to compromise what is now a really nice neighborhood with a parking

structure? Can you imagine a bunch of 16- and 17-year-old drivers

whizzing in and out of a parking structure? We have seasoned drivers out

there who cannot navigate their way through a parking structure. I know,

I’m one of them.

There are other options. The parking structure is simply a Band-Aid to

a bigger problem.

* JULIANNE KOCH is a Balboa Peninsula resident.