Jidkov Gardens: what the SU car park would look like as a grassy quad

Picture yourself in the middle of May, and Huddersfield is hot and bright. A rare, but lovely, day to meet friends and frolic in the great outdoors. However, more likely than not, our university campus is desolate with a few stray students and staff navigating the campus paths.

If you have been to any other university that values its students you will notice that there is always a central meeting place that is pleasant to inhabit, especially at times such as the one I have described. The University of Huddersfield does not have such a place.

In fact, the area that is crossed by the most students on a daily basis, the area that is the most logical congregational place- the heart of this university- is a student-hostile concrete mess. A car park that cannot be used by students.

Moreover, I’d go as far as to say that no student wants to stay on campus for longer than they need to. For any reason. It feels uncomfortable and we feel uncomfortable in it.

My proposition is simple: grass over the car park. A green space for meeting and relaxing; between, before and after lectures.

Clearly the university has money available – just take a look at all the recent renovations (all of which, I must add, are being built without any student input). Yes, they’re trying – but not very hard. Or, at least, not in a very intelligent way. It all leads us logically to my proposition. Grass it over, make it pleasant – make it a forum where students can go to meet and greet.