URBAN PARKING PLANNING

William Stanton uses mapping skills, technology in Uptown Greenville internship to add parking spaces

Many Uptown Greenville visitors love the amenities the area has to offer.

From dining at a local restaurant or walking through the weekly Umbrella Market in the summer, there’s plenty to do in the growing business district.

What visitors love a little less? A lack of parking.

East Carolina University senior William Stanton attempted to alleviate that pain point, among others, during his internship with Uptown Greenville. Stanton’s internship is part of ECU’s Office of Community Engagement and Research’s SECU Public Service Fellows internship program.

Interning with Uptown Greenville provided an opportunity to see what goes on behind the scenes during event planning, Stanton said.

The program joins the university with regional communities through projects that address community-identified priorities. Undergraduate student placements provide opportunities for fellows to develop leadership, analytical, problem solving, communication and project management skills, as well as allowing them to network in professional settings.

“Last year was my first year in Greenville, and I got the opportunity to see all of the things that go on in Uptown,” Stanton said. “I was inspired by all the activities and growth. It made me feel like I wanted to be here. I wanted to be a part of this.”

Using his mapping skills and geographic information system mapping technology, Stanton pinpointed areas where Uptown could add extra parking spaces. In a city where traffic congestion is often pushing the limits of what the area can hold, finding extra parking spaces is seen as a blessing.

“Trying to find new parking spots was difficult,” Stanton said. “It was a real challenge. I learned a lot about GIS and using it effectively in urban planning. It really challenged my skill set.”

Stanton said that interning with Uptown Greenville has provided an opportunity to see what goes on behind the scenes during event planning.

“I wanted a better understanding of the work and effort that goes in behind the events before they reach their final goal,” he said. “I needed to see that in action and learn from it. There is a lot of work that is put in to get to the final product, but seeing the smiles on people’s faces at an event makes it all worth it.

“I think I’ve learned more here than in any class I’ve taken,” he said. “I’ve built up knowledge I could never have learned just in the classroom and I’m helping the community in ways that I couldn’t before.”