by Tara Bone
The Utah State University (USU) campus is always buzzing with family-friendly activities that range from concerts and special speakers, to Aggie athletics and Aggie Ice Cream, but finding a parking place can be overwhelming.
According to Teresa Johnson, business manager of USU Parking and Transportation, the biggest parking mistake campus visitors make is simply not reading the signs.
“Make sure you read the signs and park legally,” Johnson said. “Our goal is for everyone who comes to campus to not get a parking citation.”
With a few tips everyone can enjoy campus and avoid a citation. On weekdays, before 5 p.m., use one of campus’ two parking terraces. The Big Blue Parking Terrace is next to the Taggart Student Center (TSC) and the Aggie Parking Terrace is located on the west end of campus. The rate is $1.50 an hour with a maximum of $7.50 a day. A $5 day pass may be purchased at the Visitor Information Center located right in front of the Aggie Parking Terrace. There are also parking meters throughout campus, and a meter map can be accessed at www.parking.usu.edu.
The parking terraces are open on weekends at no cost. Take a weekend stroll around campus and eat at the TSC’s Marketplace where kids 5 and under eat free.
If it’s after 5 p.m. on campus, parking is available for free at all campus lots. So if there’s a concert or play after 5 p.m., free parking is available in the lots around the Fine Arts buildings. On a busy night, additional Fine Arts parking is available in lots on the south side of 400 North. There is an underground walking tunnel that connects the parking lots and campus.
Parking for Aggie athletics is different for each sport. Parking for soccer and softball games is free in lots near the fields one-hour before game time. During basketball season, park at Romney Stadium for $5 and ride the Aggie Shuttle to The Spectrum.
Close parking around Romney Stadium for football games is reserved for Big Blue donors, but other parking is available for $10. The USU parking and transportation website has direct online registration and payment. For free football or basketball parking, there’s often space along 1000 North and on other adjacent streets and church parking lots.
The bottom line for campus parking is to use one of the parking structures before 5 p.m., and any campus lot at no cost after 5 p.m. Of course if Aggie Ice Cream is the destination, there are eight free parking stalls next to the nutrition building.
