Just as church building and landscaping designs affect first impressions of nonmembers, good or bad experiences in church parking lots may greatly influence a visitor’s overall opinion of a church, according to building experts.
“People today depend on their automobiles so much that churches are forced to provide adequate off-street parking space,” said Gwenn McCormick, author of “Planning and Building Church Facilities.”
“The goal is to provide abundant parking, not just enough to meet code requirements. If people can’t find a place to park they will not likely visit the church,” he explained.
According to Gary Swafford, director of new work and church building services at the Alabama State Board of Missions, churches should provide one parking space for every two people in attendance and should include visitor and handicapped accessible spaces.
To provide visitors with a pleasant atmosphere upon arrival, church leaders should consider these important tips before designing a church parking lot:
Consult a professional.
“Parking lots should be designed by professionals who understand the importance of adequate spacing, driveway width, traffic flow and landscape provisions,” McCormick noted.
Follow building and safety codes for parking lots.
“Arrange parking lots so that there are controlled entrances and exits,” Swafford stated.
“Safety starts at the street. Care should be taken to locate access in as safe a position as possible. Entrance turn lanes are always advisable even for small roads and in many places they are required. The same care should be taken for exits.”
Avoid one-way driveways.
“Two-way drives allow an easier way of maneuvering around the site and finding a place to park,” said Gary Nicholson, a consultant in the LifeWay Christian Services church architecture department. “One-way driveways can be another way that we create a negative experience and frustrate people during their arrival.”
When possible, place islands throughout the parking lot.
“Islands in the parking area with landscaping and even trees can soften the harshness of the asphalt and paving and make it a much more appealing place to be,” Nicholson explained.
Instead of one large parking lot, spread parking out around the facility.
This allows them to be “smaller and easier to landscape and gives more accessibility to your whole building,” according to David Payne, president of Payne and Associates Architects.
Use a master site plan when planning parking areas to avoid removal when future building expansions are necessary.
Choose materials that are readily available and economical.
“The entire parking lot does not have to be paved, but should be well-drained with healthy sod or hardcore for convenient parking,” according to Swafford.
Prepare in advance for maintenance of parking lot.
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