I was going to poke fun at this building and its parking lot in front of the main doors and how absurd it is. Unfortunately, this isn't funny; it's dangerous.
By Tray Shaw
May. 16, 2005
Gordon Price Elementary School (West Mountain)
What were they thinking when they planned this disaster? Was it, How can we make a school look like a jail? Or was it, How can we make it as difficult as possible for students - those few who walk to school - to enter the building?
I wonder if the seniority of the teacher dictates how close their parking spot is to the main doors. Perhaps the Principal gets the closest spot (only ten steps required) and a first year teacher gets the parking spot far away at the back near chainlink - or is that the front? Does this school even have a front and back?
I was going to poke fun at this building and its parking lot in front of the main doors and how absurd it is. Unfortunately, this isn't funny; it's dangerous.
The front street access also features an entrance-only and exit-only curb cut, similar to a drive-thru Wendy's, which lead cars from the street in a semi-circle to the front doors, a mere few meters away.
This creates a dizzying and dangerous situation of cars dropping off their kids then trying as fast as they can to exit, trying not only to avoid other cars parked haphazardly doing the same thing, but also students (JK to grade eight) walking. Then, for more danger, we add some school buses, piloted by drivers who always seem to be in an futile rush.
The front of the school is landscaped similar to a bus-shelter site. Of course, landscaping is unimportant because the primary use of the front of the school and main entrance is to facilitate the movement of cars, buses, mini-vans and SUVs.
Walking facilities seem to have been tacked on as an afterthought.
The only sidewalk that connects the street to the building for hundreds of students and their parents is a tiny, uneven swath of asphalt, barely wide enough for two people to walk side by side. As a result, most people have to walk beside it, consequently turning the grass into a permanent mucky wetland.
I don't know who designed this - or if an architect is even responsible - but how this ever got built makes me wonder where the priorities lie for public education and its institutions. A convenient parking space - or an environment that is safe and conducive for educating our children?
G. L. Armstrong School on Concession Street. What school would you rather walk to?
By Anonymous
Posted
Hey, you forgot the non-fenced areas you tard! And it isn't dangerous. There's a large space between the parking space and the school. There's also only a fence around the daycare place so the little kids don't run off into the street and a fence around the parking area so that no cars roam around wildly. Things aren't always what they seem!!
By GORDON PRICE CHILD
Posted 4/28/2006 11:24:48 PM
EXCUSE ME!!!!
MAKING FUN OF MY SCHOOL HUH???
Well as a matter of fact it is not a jail and the teachers park anywhere they want, god!
people these days .
By ...
Posted 5/1/2006 6:36:02 PM
ARE YOU EVEN ALLOWED TO HAVE PICTURES OF THIS SCHOOL ON THIS SITE?!?!?
By jason
Posted 5/1/2006 11:39:06 PM
Taxpayers paid for this school. Unfortunately, they weren't consulted on safety issues or design (human safety, not the safety of precious vehicles). Public space is exactly that - public. Available to be enjoyed and photographed by whomever would like to. You should be glad that an independent media source cares enough about the safety of children at this school to do a piece on it. Over the past 20 years Hamilton has averaged 26 car deaths PER YEAR. It's horrendous designs like this one that lead to human beings being sacrificed for the sake of our SUV's and shortening our walk to the front door by 13 steps. As a student or staff member of this school perhaps you'll take up these serious safety issues with the powers that be.
By Hamilton Citizen
Posted 7/2/2006 8:16:55 PM
The biggest issue I have with this school is that the sidewalks on either side leading up to the school are rarely plowed in the winter, making all the parents with young ones in strollers have to chance it by walking through a slushy parking lot with many of the other parents in cars, SUVs, etc. rushing about. Not too considerate, considering there's a daycare right there. If you can't afford a vehicle, it's too bad for you. Hopefully you don't get hit by a car... At the same time, I couldn't help but notice last winter that the parking lot was regularly plowed.
By parent
Posted 10/3/2006 8:13:45 AM
I feel the driveway is fine. It's up to drivers to check before they enter the driveway. Pedestrians have the right of way. I have said for several years on the parent survey that the walkway that runs along the side of the school is too narrow. This year is even worse with the addition of the fence outside of the kindergarten area. I am not looking forward to negotiating this area in the winter ( especially when it hasn't been plowed yet).
By Trev
Posted 10/6/2006 11:31:10 AM
Re: The photo use.
Wait, I'll ask the bricks and see if they're offended by having their picture taken. I'll get back to you soon.
By Trev2
Posted 10/6/2006 11:39:11 AM
Isn't the new chainlink attractive? I think they only need to put a few weight benches on the back ashphalt and it will look like the excersice yard of Kingston Pen.
By
Posted 11/23/2006 11:52:13 AM
we have doors in the back ...THE BACK ..BEHIND THATS PICTURE.. geez. we get in there the grades 6-8 and all the rest us a lovely side door walking on the path. Jail..pfft. is the best school i have ever been too, and thats not my only one.
By katharina wiebe
Posted 12/14/2006 4:57:51 PM
I USED TO GO TO THIS SCHOOL BEFORE I MOVED TO DALEWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL. I LOVVE THIS SCHOOL AND THE TEACHERS ROCK. MY FAV. TEACHERS WERE MR AND MRS MARSHEL. I HOPE TO VVISIT SOME TIME IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
By G.P. student Wade
Posted 9/30/2007 1:17:55 AM
This is stupid you took pictures so they look dangerous! There is another side walk on the other side of the school that is about 25 feet long. just to let you know I will telling my principal ( just to let you know is a good one) to see if this is even leagle to take these pictures. by the way i like this school and u disn it aint helpin its rep!
By trey
Posted 10/1/2007 10:40:46 AM
I don't have any problem with the teachers and administration. There are very good. It's the building design that is flawed. It's oriented for vehicle traffic and not for pedestrians. If a student decided to choose the other sidewalk, that student would also have to cross the paths of parents driving their kids to school not once but twice. There are two curb cuts and the drivers do not look for children. The school buses are the worst offenders.
By sweeny
Posted 2/12/2008 7:05:51 PM
I love this school! the teachers are great! The principal is the BEST!!!!! I wish Mrs.Griffin were here though, she was the best secratery ever!!! Best wishes to the school xox
By sweeny
Posted 2/12/2008 7:10:21 PM
I wish SOMEONE would stop putting graffity on the school! it is disrespectful!!! I guess people don't understand what NO TRESPASING DAWN TILL DUSK MEANS!! If Gordon Price Is a great school than i would never disrespect the school!!
By the-one-and-only-bitch-of-GP-LS
Posted 2/15/2008 5:23:45 PM
kaay bud, honestly go get a fking life;! like do you not have anything better to do with your life then make fun of schools? I am the one and only bitch of GP and as much as I hate the drama and crap at GP its a good school. so go fuck a cow buddy before you mess with us and our school.
FUCK OFF
I'm positive if I went and made fun of your damn school you'd be just as mad.
right now I am wishing GP was a jail so we could throw your sorry ass in there
By Titilanonee lenny
Posted 2/15/2008 5:27:52 PM
TRUEE THAT!!1!!i go to the school and its crap...crap education and crap teachers(except for mr. and mrs.marshall). Mr Yull Sucks BIG FAT BALLS!!! i hate him he ruins life.......
By Titilanonee lenny
Posted 2/15/2008 5:28:02 PM
TRUEE THAT!!1!!i go to the school and its crap...crap education and crap teachers(except for mr. and mrs.marshall). Mr Yull Sucks BIG FAT BALLS!!! i hate him he ruins life.......
By the-one-and-only-bitch-of-GP-LS
Posted 2/15/2008 5:36:02 PM
this Trev guy needs a life
why dont you just leave the damn school alone
like ohmygod
when I read it I was ready to knock him out
By Bassist
Posted 2/15/2008 5:45:13 PM
I Go There
And I must admit it's pretty brutal
some of the drivers in the parking road thing
are vicious and rude. As per the jail thing, thats more or less correct. I remember one of my friends tripping over the chain blocking the road once and knocking out one of her teeth. Although its been gone since then.
By brittany
Posted 3/15/2008 7:37:05 PM
okay.. so i agree with some of you! becuz i go to GP and it sorta sucks... i mean some of the teachers are cool like MRS. SWARTZ!! <3
but i walk to school every day, and yea i've almost been hit by car, and im careful. i watch wuts going on around me.. like its an okay school, the kids and everything are great... but.. its dangerous!!
YEA WHY DIDNT U SAY ANYTHING ABOUT ARMSTRONG!!!! I MEAN IT CANT BE PERFECT!
The Lister Block will be restored. If there are pieces that cannot be restored, they will be replicated. What you're going to see is the Lister Block restored, with the exception of several buildings adjacent to it. ... You will see a brand-new building with the Lister Block incorporated in it." -- Joe Mancinelli, Vice-President, Labourers' Union of North America (LIUNA)
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