Visitor Center Parking Lots Picnic Area Preparation

Warmer temperatures have led to the picnic tables being brought out of their storage location at the Bus Depot area near the bus parking lot. This view was taken facing north at approximately 12:00 PM on Sunday, March 8, 2009.

In preparation for the spring bus season, the picnic tables that were sprinkled throughout the parking lots have been brought out of storage. The staff was sanding them down and repainting them Sunday afternoon. The tables and garbage cans will be in place “in a couple of days.”

The Bus Depot, at the Bus Parking area was used over the winter to store the parking lot picnic tables and garbage receptacles. This view was taken facing west at approximately 12:00 PM on Sunday, March 8, 2009.

The Gettysburg Foundation staff took advantage of the warm weather to bring the tables and receptacles outside to work on them. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 12:00 PM on Sunday, March 8, 2009.

Thousands of buses visit Gettysburg each year, and most of them are school groups in the spring. One of the picnic areas is in the background near the treeline. This view was taken facing east at approximately 12:00 PM on Sunday, March 8, 2009.

A staff member sands down the the picnic tables. This view was taken facing north at approximately 12:00 PM on Sunday, March 8, 2009.

Another staff member applies sealant to the wood on the garbage receptacles. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 12:00 PM on Sunday, March 8, 2009.

In the past, spring visitation at Gettysburg has seen the Visitor Center hosting over 100 buses a day. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 12:00 PM on Sunday, March 8, 2009.

Most of the bus groups to Gettysburg are also on their way to or from Washington, D.C. This view was taken facing west at approximately 12:00 PM on Sunday, March 8, 2009.

Some of the groups will use the picnic area on the east side of the parking lot. This view was taken facing east at approximately 12:00 PM on Sunday, March 8, 2009.

Buses, RVs, and vehicles with trailers have always exited and entered the north side of the bus parking lot. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 12:00 PM on Sunday, March 8, 2009.

The southwest side of the parking lot has always been an exit. Now it may also be used as an entrance. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 12:00 PM on Sunday, March 8, 2009.

To accommodate the new traffic flow, some of the lines on the parking spaces have been oriented to a different direction. This view was taken facing north at approximately 12:00 PM on Sunday, March 8, 2009.

These parking spaces should be filled up starting this week. This view was taken facing east at approximately 12:00 PM on Sunday, March 8, 2009.

See the following related posts:

May 3, 2008 (More Parking at the New Visitor Center?)
July 8, 2008 (Parking Lot Progress)
July 9, 2008 (Rocks in Place, But Will They Work?)
July 17, 2008 (Taneytown Road Entrance Closed)
August 31, 2008 (Parking Lots Full for Labor Day Weekend)
September 20, 2008 (Finishing Touches on the Parking Lots Before the Grand Opening)
November 2, 2008 (NPS Visitor Center Parking and Traffic Update)
All Lined Up But No Cars Will Go: Parking Lot #3 Closed for the Winter on December 2, 2008.