Widener pushing back as Chester installs parking meters on campus

The rate for parking at newly metered spaces on Widener University campus will be $2 an hour.

Widener University, Chester, Pa. (Emma Lee/WHYY)

Widener University, Chester, Pa. (Emma Lee/WHYY)

Widener University is fighting the city of Chester over parking meters installed on the campus.

Claiming that the 1,200 meters will cause much more than an inconvenience to students and staff, the university is seeking a  restraining order against Chester.

“It’s an impossible predicament for our staff, our students, our faculty to utilize parking meters at $2 an hour,” said Rocco Imperatrice, Widener’s attorney. “The fact that the city intends to install 1,500 meters in the city, 1.200 around Widener, speaks volumes about the city’s intent.”

The vast majority of Widener’s 5,600 undergraduate and graduate students are commuters.

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At the direction of his client, Imperatrice said he’s moving to prevent the city from issuing any tickets there.

“The installation of parking meters on Widener’s property — it’s our contention it’s not legal and it constitutes a trespass,” he said. “We’re asking the court to stop the installation of the parking meters and the operation of the parking meters.”

Poles have been set up around campus in preparation for the meters, and it’s expected enforcement of the new parking regulation could begin by next week.

A hearing on the issue is scheduled for Wednesday. Chester officials did not respond to requests for comment.

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