4/26/21 Update: UP Mayor Len Carey and Councilmember Joe Schultz confirmed that these parking spaces will still be available for all cars to park, not just electric vehicles.
University Park just installed 6 electric car charging stations, in partnership with the Electric Vehicle Institute (EVI). The stations are located on Queens Chapel Road, directly across from University Park Elementary School, in parking spots frequently used by UPES parents during morning drop-off / afternoon pick up of students.
Four of the six EVI electric car parking spots installed in University Park.
University Park Installs Electric Car Charging Stations
From the University Park Town Council’s February 2021 meeting minutes, it appears that the stations are “part of a statewide initiative to develop electric drive and charging infrastructure….The cost of installation and initial maintenance is covered by grant from EVI…[who] will maintain the charging stations for five years. The receiving entity pays the cost of preparing the site(s).”
School Day Parking Allowed?
Electric vehicles are certainly the way to go; among other things, they produce fewer emissions overall than their gas-powered counterparts and help tackle climate change. Installing the charging stations in parking spaces that are frequently used by harried UPES families trying to safely drop their kids off at school while still making it to work on time gives us pause, however, only because electric charging parking spots are usually restricted to those type of vehicles.
We reached out to the Town of University Park to learn more about the use of these parking spots; we’ll keep you posted. Here’s to hoping that consideration of local, public school families was given and that non-EV parking is allowed in these 6 spots, at least during morning drop-off or afternoon pick-up of our students.
Leave a Reply