A high school is often the center point of a community, or at least a prominent hub of activity and a representation of the town or city it’s located in. That’s why it’s more important than you might think that your local high school looks as inviting, creative, and innovative as possible.
Having a beautiful high school facade makes the place stand out, and can even entice people looking for a place to move, especially if they have kids. And, while most high schools use landscaping features, signage, and exterior additions to the school itself as a means of improving curb appeal, the parking lot is usually overlooked.
Most high school parking lots are made from asphalt, which is a cost-effective, yet bland and temporary solution for parking. Asphalt parking lots are the norm in America which is why there’s a lack of innovation and creativity surrounding parking spaces.
However, there are options available now that are more stylish and cost-effective than asphalt, like permeable pavers. So, in case you want to update your high school parking lot, let’s look at 3 great ideas for how to do so with permeable pavement.
Why is Permeable Pavement Better for High School Parking Lots?
Permeable pavement like the kind made by TRUEGRID is one of the best high school parking lot solutions for many reasons, the first being durability. High school parking lots see more wear and tear than almost any other type of parking lot. This causes the asphalt to break down at a rapid rate and the lots need to be resurfaced and replaced more frequently than they normally would.
Since asphalt is impermeable, these lots often deal with flooding or they have to implement additional drainage features like sloping and trench drains to deal with stormwater. When the lots inevitably break down, potholes can wreak havoc on the vehicles of young drivers.
TRUEGRID permeable pavers, on the other hand, will last up to 60 years with only minimal maintenance required for upkeep. They’re also 98%-permeable, and allow all stormwater to drain directly through them, eliminating the need for additional drainage as well as the possibility of flooding.
These pavers are made from 100%-recycled plastic, making them one of the most eco-friendly high school parking lot solutions on the market. They can also utilize a variety of different colored gravel to create unique and varied looks, designs, and aesthetics in a high school parking lot.
The Best Permeable High School Parking Lot Options
1. Gravel
Gravel is incredibly cheap and when combined with stabilizing pavers like TRUEGRID PRO LITE or TRUEGRID PRO PLUS, it makes for the single most cost-effective yet durable parking lot solution available. The pavers themselves can be cut to size and fit into just about any space you need them to.
Gravel also comes in a variety of colors which can be used to create vivid patterns and visually appealing color schemes throughout your lot. Gravel is best used in a high school parking lot that gets a lot of traffic and needs to mitigate maintenance requirements.
2. Grass
This is one of the coolest high school parking lot solutions you’ll come across. TRUEGRID ROOT pavers can be used to turn any grass area into a parking lot, without displacing the grass. Simply roll these pavers right out onto the grass and press them into the ground with a vehicle or heavy roller.
They will grip the soil and stay firmly in place, stabilizing the surface to be driven on and preventing ruts or mudholes from developing. TRUEGRID ROOT also allows the grass to grow right up through the pavers themselves, meaning you could maintain an invisible parking lot if you let the grass grow high enough.
3. Combination
You can also use TRUEGRID permeable pavers to implement a combination parking lot. This might mean using other materials like asphalt in conjunction with permeable pavement.
You could also implement both TRUEGRID ROOT and TRUEGRID PRO LITE or PRO PLUS pavers to stabilize your entire lot while still keeping some grass around as well. You could also use small stones in the pavers instead of large gravel. This presents a different look and can provide you with even more variety as far as colors go.
TRUEGRID Can Revolutionize Your High School Parking Lot
High schools are places of innovation and excitement, so why not let your parking lot reflect that? TRUEGRID permeable pavement is one of the most innovative, durable, stylish, eco-friendly, cost-effective, and low-maintenance paving materials in existence.
If you’re ready to do away with your boring old asphalt lot and replace it with something that really catches the eye and cuts costs as well, why not go with one of the most durable and stylish high school parking lot solutions you can find? Call TRUEGRID today and get in touch with a pavement specialist who can get you pointed in the right direction.
