"Definite inconvenience:" Church of the Gesu parishioners upset over parking lot closure

MILWAUKEE -- Marquette University is closing one of its campus parking lots. While this may not seem like a big deal, it has left the members of one Milwaukee parish frustrated.

"I love this church. It's a very old building, it's very beautiful, and it's a very holy place to come and pray," said Austin Dodge, a parishioner at Church of the Gesu.

Dodge started attending Mass at the Church of the Gesu seven years ago. Like many other parishioners, he often parks in lot F since it is free on weekends.

"It's very easy. It's a convenient place to park. You can cross the street and get in very quickly," Dodge said.

Marquette plans to close the parking lot on Monday, Feb. 19 to start construction on a new athletic center.

"We were notified basically after all the planning had been done, and key decisions were in place," said John O'Brien, Director of Operations and Administration for Gesu parish.

For 15 months, parishioners will need to find somewhere else to park.

"I very well could see it discouraging people to come because there's not a whole lot of other places to park," Dodge said.

In a statement to FOX6 News on Friday, Feb. 2, a spokesman for Marquette University said the following:

"The options pose a definite inconvenience for parishioners, and the long-term parking options at this point are ill-defined and uncertain," O'Brien said.

Marquette is making five additional parking lots available for Gesu parishioners.

While O'Brien says the parish is opposed to the project in its current form, it is working with the university to resolve this matter.

CLICK HERE to view a parking map for the Church of the Gesu