Story by Nicholas Kendall
Contributing writer
nkendall1@murraystate.edu
For the next two months visitors to the Curris Center will have to find a new place to park.
Starting June 10, the Curris Center parking lot will undergo reconstruction to add more spaces. Crews plan to remove the islands between the current rows to add an additional 30 to 40 parking spots. The University hopes that this will minimize accidents, which has been an issue for the past couple of years because of how close the rows are to one another.
Summer Orientations for incoming freshmen will be affected by the parking lot closure. The next session is scheduled for Thursday, June 6 with five additional sessions throughout the summer.
Shawn Touney, director of communication at Murray State said the closure of the Curris Center parking lot has forced the University to relocate Summer Orientation check-in to the lobby of H.C. Franklin Residence Hall for sessions 3-8, beginning June 6.
“Parking for Summer O will therefore be in that residential hall area,” Touney said. “Students, family members and guests will walk across the pedestrian bridge over Chestnut Street to the Curris Center for Summer O activities. ADA accessible buses will be available at check-in to assist those who need help to get to the Curris Center. We have also added an Early Check-In option the evening before each Summer O session from 6:00-8:00pm at the Sid Easley Alumni Center.”
The Curris Center has been a focal point for the University in terms of construction.
The much anticipated Chik-Fil-A and Einstein Bros. Bagels restaurants have begun construction inside the student center. The reconstruction of the parking lot should not affect the completions of the restaurants.
“We feel that the Curris Center parking lot construction project will enhance the campus experience of both our University community as well as visitors and guests of the University,” Touney said.
All projects are expected to be finished by mid-August.