Stork spaces courteous, but prove profitable, too

The new CVS Pharmacy at 845 Fourth St. N in St. Petersburg is the latest store to join a national trend of designating one parking space by the front door for pregnant women. The little sign with the stork picture says: "Parking For Expectant Moms Only."

I talked with more than a dozen shoppers one night in the parking lot and found all were in favor of giving pregnant moms the perk. A difference of opinion was easy to find, too, with the question being: It's nice, but is it necessary?

Women's rights advocates say the special parking makes pregnancy seem a handicap, something women have been opposing in the workplace for decades. Older citizens say it's harder for them to truck across a parking lot then a young, healthy, expectant mother. Parents say it's harder to herd three kids across a busy parking lot than tote one in your stomach.

"It's more of a courtesy and not a medical necessity," said Beth Benson, an obstetrician with OB/GYN Associates in St. Petersburg. "The exercise (from walking from a further space) is good for you. If you are so disabled, then you would be on bed rest and not supposed to be out shopping anyway."

Added Benson: Pregnancy is a normal, physiological stage and not something that has to be treated as an extreme circumstance.

I see the parking space as something that accomplishes more good for CVS than any pregnant mom. In exchange for the price of a small street sign, CVS comes across as full of goodwill and concern for womankind.

"It's nice, especially when they're in their eighth or ninth month and it's summer," said Sarah Jordan, who has never been pregnant but hopes that when she is, stores everywhere will have stork parking. "I wouldn't consider an expectant mom disabled, but I think she should have some special treatment."

"You need to take care of expectant moms. I think more stores should do it," said Susan Preston, who has been pregnant before.

"I think the idea is a good idea, but how do you police it?," said Daniel Stephens, who pointed out that many moms aren't visibly pregnant for several months.

That could be an issue, but I imagine most people, especially men, aren't about to fight a possibly pregnant woman for her parking space.

"Female heads of households are our core customer," said Rhode Island-based CVS spokesman Mike DeAngelis. "Mothers make the most shopping trips to CVS, so it's a service to our core customers. We've gotten really positive feedback from it. If you're pregnant, any convenience will be of help."

I translate this as smart corporate strategy. If pregnant moms think a store is nice to them for four or five months with a convenient parking space, they are more likely to spend the next two to three years buying formula, diapers or wipes there.

There is no corporate policy mandating every CVS store offer the stork parking. It's up to individual district managers. CVS started designating parking for pregnant moms two years ago. The CVS on 34th Street N also has a dedicated space.

Lakeland-based Publix Supermarkets has a similar approach to maternity parking; it's based on the store managers and customer demand.

"We don't have a corporate program for maternity parking," said Publix spokesman Lee Brunson. "If customers who wanted it talked to a store manager, they might be able to do something."

I think the new Jim & Heather Gills YMCA on First Avenue South in St. Petersburg has a much more beneficial parking program for parents. The Y has six family parking spaces right next to the grassy area in front of the building. It's easier and safer to unload your kids on the sidewalk or grass instead of herding them through a maze of parked and moving cars.

"They are being received very well. When mom comes in she has a lot of kids, strollers and all kinds of stuff and this is better than running around between parked cars," said Karen Galinowski, Gills YMCA Executive Director. "I don't patrol the parking lot, but I haven't noticed any single adults using them. They are not always used which makes it evident they are not being abused."

The Y is not adding maternity parking, she said. After all, when pregnant women park at the Y they are coming to exercise, so a slightly longer walk across the parking lot shouldn't be a problem.

In Dade County, the government also is looking out for parents of babies who have already been born. The county passed an ordinance five years ago that mandates any business with 500 or more spaces offer a "stroller parking" space. The county sells permits for parents with children three years or under. They cost $1.50 to issue then 50 cents a month until the child is three. More than 7,500 were sold last year.

"It really does make a difference," said Ruth Kimbrough, a spokeswoman for Dade County, who had a stroller parking permit herself for three years. "If you're at a mall, it's nice not to have to worry about walking to the back of a parking lot with a stroller, especially at night. But at the grocery store, you usually don't need your stroller but you feel you have to bring it in if you're going to park in the space."

-- You can reach Katherine Snow Smith by e-mail at Oliviachar@aol.com; or write Rookie Mom, St. Petersburg Times, PO Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731.

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