First big weekend at new playground creates parking headache
Memorial Day weekend was a stress test for the new playground at 200 Trapelo Road that revealed problems, including parking overflow issues impacting the nearby neighborhood and gridlock on Trapelo Road.
The sudden influx of vehicles jostling for parking flustered the Beaver Brook neighborhood during what is usually a quiet holiday weekend.
Several families who parked in the neighborhood over the weekend had to traverse their way to the playground with small children in tow but were hindered by a lack of sidewalks, crosswalks and parking at the site. When families finally arrived at the playground, some parents expressed concern about overcrowding and the prospect of crossing Trapelo Road while cars sped by.
Additionally, cars were parked along Trapelo Road in an area where parking is usually prohibited.
At times, tempers flared this weekend. Waltham police were called to the new playground after an argument over a handicapped parking spot grew heated between two motorists.
The stressful weekend at 200 Trapelo Road has the attention of Ward 3 City Councilor Bill Hanley, who issued a statement on his website after meeting with constituents in the neighborhood.
In that online message he vowed to discuss the matter with the Traffic Commission at its June meeting and proposed restricting parking in the neighborhood to residents only or prohibiting playground parking.
“We’ve received numerous complaints about parking issues in the neighborhood and on the streets near 200 Trapelo,” Hanley said in the statement. “I just spent an hour in the neighborhood and spoke to several people in person. Frustration has even caused people to put up signs, which I understand. In the meantime, police are enforcing regulations by ticketing vehicles parked too close to intersections or blocking fire hydrants. While enforcement helps, we need a long-term solution. I’m also going to pursue immediate, short-term measures to support the neighborhood before what is sure to be a busy summer at 200 Trapelo.”
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Would have been nice if the Mayor didn’t go on television and invite everyone stating, “even if you don’t live in Waltham, come on down to the park!”
Have some consideration for the people who have lived there for decades before inviting people into their space. People are camped out there all day, reserving the little bit of shaded area and the scarce seating, never mind the limited parking. People can’t get into their driveways on Marlborough Road all of a sudden. Thanks a lot for the consideration to the people who live there and pay taxes.
Not to mention the mosquito infested swamp right on Trapelo road. Could you drain it and maybe put bushes up so people don’t have to look at it?! And lovely the port a potties are on the neighborhood/Trapelo Road side.
Folks have been patient waiting to how you work out the kinks, but looks like no one cares about the kinks.
Have some decency and take care of these easily fixable problems, please!!!
Put up resident parking only signs ASAP and enforce them, this is out of control!