In early May, after a year of settling for the Essex lot, juniors finally get to be the big dogs on campus and claim their new parking lot: Dougherty Ferry. The lot is the larger of the two, and is reserved for seniors and staff. It has 369 spots total, 187 for students and 182 for teachers. However, it’s a little more difficult to navigate. 

Dougherty Ferry is shaped like a half-circle, and its spots are slanted, so it is an adjustment from the simplicity of the junior lot. If the diagonal lines are too intimidating, there is an overflow lot with traditional lines, but you’ve got to be early because those spots are the first to go. 

Despite having more teacher spots, they aren’t as controversial because the majority of them are filled every day. Maybe it’s just because of senioritis, but if you roll into this lot at 7:35 a.m., there will still be an open spot, something you couldn’t find on Essex.

While Dougherty Ferry hasn’t perfected the end-of-day traffic routine either, it is definitely a lot less of a headache. The pick-up lines feed into each other seamlessly, so the only worry is trying not to hit the curb to get in the left turn lane.

This lot is a favorite for baseball players and students who enjoy STEM subjects due to its proximity to those buildings and fields, but that’s pretty much it. Dougherty Ferry is a decent walk from the gyms, natatorium and fields, so unless you’re trying to get some extra steps in, this lot probably isn’t your first choice. 

The biggest bone I have to pick with this lot is the name of the road it’s on. “Dougherty Ferry” is such a chore to spell that KHS students resorted to strictly referring to it as “DF.” I mean, whoever named this road chose the most difficult spelling they could. Why couldn’t they have gone with Dorty Fairy?

Dougherty Ferry seems like parking lot heaven, and it is, until that first rainy day of the school year. Instead of a parking lot, you’ll feel like you’re stepping on a minefield trying to avoid the puddles and ponds that develop after the slightest drizzle. 

Dougherty Ferry is way better than Essex, which makes sense, because the superior class deserves the superior parking lot.