More parking spaces may open up soon if a campus parking official has her way.

University of Transportation and Parking Services manager Nancy Fox put in a work order March 11 aimed at adding parking between Lot 6 and the Children?s Center.

Two weeks ago, Sacramento State facilities management workers uprooted a small, grassy area in front of the child development center where construction crews for Parking Structure II often parked.

Fox said that because the grass was used for parking for the construction workers, coupled with rainy weather, the grass eventually wore out and became a muddy wreck. Decomposed granite was poured on the surface to replace the unsightly area.

“It was more of a beautification project,” Fox said. “It definitely needed to be smoothed out, so it looks better aesthetically.”

During a Feb. 22 Transportation Advisory Committee meeting, however, Fox was under the impression that the project was used to pave the way for more parking.

Facilities planning manager Ronald Richardson introduced the project at the meeting and said that decomposed granite was going to be set after the grass was removed so that the area would be used for parking. But TAC members were not aware that the project was going on.

“That was news to me and everybody else at the meeting,” said TAC Director of Support Services Ronald Grant. “It?s a good idea (if the area will be used for parking). We?re just trying to use every space we possibly can for parking.”

After the meeting, Richardson found out that the project was in fact not completed for parking.

“I was a little confused with what they were doing,” Richardson said. “It was more of a cleanup project.”

University workers spread decomposed granite, which is a little more expensive than the gravel used in overflow parking lots and less expensive than asphalt, over the area. Richardson said. But as of now, there aren?t any bumper stops or parking lines.

“It?s up to Nancy Fox and UTAPS if they want to use it for parking,” he said.

And that?s what Fox intends to do.

“I?ve put in the work order for it and now I?m just waiting for an estimate,” Fox said. “If we used it for parking the way it is (with decomposed granite), it will get beat down really fast. It?s too soft and it?s not prepared for a lot of vehicle traffic.”

Fox estimated that about 40 parking spaces would open up if the Sac State administration approves of the project, but she admitted that she doesn?t know exactly how much parking would be available and how many would be used for faculty or students until it is approved.