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#Post#: 69323--------------------------------------------------
Baseball Field at the Top of the Hill
By: BeagleMommy Date: August 16, 2021, 2:29 pm
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I live on a dead end street in a residential neighborhood. At
the top of the hill is a baseball field that some local pee wee
sports teams use in late summer and most of the fall.
It has always created problems for those of us that live on the
street. At one time they would park on the street and walk up
the hill. I know we can't do anything about people parking on
public streets, but they often blocked our driveways (had to
threaten someone that I'd call the police if he didn't move from
mine. They are not permitted to block driveways.
Most of these cars go whizzing up the hill at breakneck speeds
(speed limit is not posted but it is 15 mph; we are trying to
get a sign). Several times I've had people screech their brakes
as I was pulling out of my driveway.
Currently, whoever owns the field has been holding events up
there with rather large crowds. BeagleDaddy and I came home
from lunch on Sunday to find our narrow street congested with
people trying to get up and down the hill. Lots of honking
horns. If an emergency vehicle had to get through there's no
telling how long it would sit in the congestion. We managed to
just squeak into our driveway. Three people on the block
(including BeagleDaddy) called the police to get some kind of
assistance and they were told there was nothing they could do.
I'm tempted to video tape the whole mess the next time it
happens and send it to the local news. Anyone have any other
suggestions?
#Post#: 69328--------------------------------------------------
Re: Baseball Field at the Top of the Hill
By: sandisadie Date: August 16, 2021, 5:42 pm
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If you make a video and send it to a local news tv station, I
think that would be great! If that kind of thing was happening
on my street that's what I'd do if law enforcement won't help.
#Post#: 69329--------------------------------------------------
Re: Baseball Field at the Top of the Hill
By: Isisnin Date: August 16, 2021, 5:48 pm
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Videoing the situation is a good idea just so you have it in
case you need it. Video two or three times also for different
events on different days.
Do you have some sort of representative that represents your
neighborhood to your town or city? I live a big city with a
Mayor, but there is also a city council which has elected
councilors that that represent the city neighborhoods. They tend
to be very responsive to their constituents. Have as many
neighbors as possible call his/her office to ask help. Help
getting the speed limits signs faster and maybe traffic officers
for events. The event holders should probably pay for that.
If children live on the street be sure to explain that all that
vehicular traffic puts them in danger. The powers that bee tend
to more responsive to issues regarding children.
#Post#: 69332--------------------------------------------------
Re: Baseball Field at the Top of the Hill
By: jpcher Date: August 16, 2021, 6:39 pm
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[quote author=BeagleMommy link=topic=2140.msg69323#msg69323
date=1629142157]
(snip)
Three people on the block (including BeagleDaddy) called the
police to get some kind of assistance and they were told there
was nothing they could do.
I'm tempted to video tape the whole mess the next time it
happens and send it to the local news. Anyone have any other
suggestions?
[/quote]
True, there really isn't anything the police can do because the
people are not breaking any laws.
The only suggestion that I can come up with is, along with your
speed limit signs that you're trying to get posted*, try to get
no parking signs. Maybe limited (no parking between X and X
hours during X and X days).
Start with the Town Council or Village Hall meetings. Show up as
a united group. Choose one spokes person (so that it's not a mob
type situation). BE PREPARED! Have a proper petition signed by
all of the neighbors (it won't work if only 5 out of 30 sign the
petition). Definitely use photos and supporting statements . . .
not just the wimpy "This really irritates me" type of blanket
statements, but strong and firm reasons as to why No Parking
signs are of the utmost importance for your neighborhood. Show
photos that prove people parked across your driveway. Show
photos proving the back-up on the street and definitely mention
the concern about emergency vehicles being unable to pass
through.
Side note . . . and do mention this if it's relevant, because it
can very well be important . . . are there any other parking
areas around the venue? Paid lots? (are people searching out
your street for free parking?) Are other neighborhoods being
affected in the same manner? (If so, you might want to get them
on board with you for petition signing, etc.)
It will be a difficult, time consuming and involved process.
My last question to you is "How often does this happen?" Is it
every day? Once a week for three months? Several times a week
where it is truly a residential disturbance? This is where you
(OP) need to decide how important it is to you to move forward
with this municipal complaint.
If this is a 'thinking about moving out of my beloved home due
to this issue' type of thing then I strongly encourage you to
fight for your peaceful neighborhood. Please keep us informed as
to your process!
*P.S. How are you going about getting the speed limit signs?
(two responses while I was typing.)
#Post#: 69333--------------------------------------------------
Re: Baseball Field at the Top of the Hill
By: oogyda Date: August 16, 2021, 6:41 pm
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If you have an HOA, or even if you don't, there may be some
covenants and restrictions that govern movement through the
neighborhood. Those would be on record with the local
government (city or county) and are obliged to be enforced.
That would include the unposted speed limit.
At my former residence, the local race track had a restriction
of noise after 10:00 pm. Many in the neighborhood called to
complain and were told there was nothin the police or sheriff
could do, but once the county commission was presented with the
copy of the restriction, they fined the race track HEAVILY and
it didn't happen again while I lived there. Funnily enough, it
wasn't a race that brought this upon them, but a concert.
#Post#: 69342--------------------------------------------------
Re: Baseball Field at the Top of the Hill
By: BeagleMommy Date: August 17, 2021, 7:49 am
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Thanks, everyone.
To answer some questions:
The pee wee football happens every weekend until the end of
November.
The special events happen at least once per month but nothing as
bad as we saw on Sunday.
There are no other parking lots around the neighborhood. People
are told they can park in the local shopping center since Sunday
is a slow day but then they have to hike up a hill.
People in the neighborhood have been asking for a speed limit
sign from city council for years. It is not a priority to them
since it is a dead end street. I don't know if there is a
neighborhood representative but I think it would be good to look
into it.
#Post#: 69344--------------------------------------------------
Re: Baseball Field at the Top of the Hill
By: Hmmm Date: August 17, 2021, 8:23 am
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I recommend starting with the owner of the field. Get a few of
your neighbors to sign a letter stating the issue and send off
to them. Your local tax assessors office can tell you ownership.
Let them know of the issues and request they would like to work
with you on resolution prior to you escalating to local news or
government officials. In the letter mention the inability for
emergency cars to get through the street and state that you
prefer to not go directly to the fire marshall to address the
concern. Venue owners hate to deal with the city on complaints
from local neighbors. They know they will start being heavily
scrutinized on all areas of their operation. Maybe the venue and
the neighbors would all agree to making the street one sided
parking during weekends. Or maybe they pay for a security person
to patrol the street during events and alert parkers to slow
down or to not block driveways.
We had friends involved in a similar issue. The fire marshall
forced one sided street parking because of the blocking of
response vehicles.
In the meantime, get 3 parking cones to put in the street with
one 1 in the center of your driveway on the street and the other
two about a foot out from the edge of your driveway. Some people
will be cheeky enough to try and move them, but most won't. You
can also get the little yard signs that state "Do Not Block
Driveway."
#Post#: 69345--------------------------------------------------
Re: Baseball Field at the Top of the Hill
By: bopper Date: August 17, 2021, 8:25 am
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I would call the police non-emergency lines and say that your
street needs help with traffic control.
There needs to be a speed sign/police monitoring as it is not
safe, and that when there is a big event there needs to be
alternative parking and/or someone directing traffic as you
don't feel it safe if an ambulance or police car would need to
come in an emergency.
Also contact the "transportation" part of your town and tell
them they need more parking at the field.
Basically say you realize people need to park on your street but
you need to be safe too.
#Post#: 69350--------------------------------------------------
Re: Baseball Field at the Top of the Hill
By: Aleko Date: August 17, 2021, 11:34 am
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You could try getting the organisers to provide shuttle
transport from the shopping centre to the event?
#Post#: 69362--------------------------------------------------
Re: Baseball Field at the Top of the Hill
By: holly firestorm Date: August 17, 2021, 3:25 pm
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Wow! This sounds so much like a situation my friends from the
Archery Range are encountering. Luckily, we can, hopefully, get
help from the Parks Dept. and Parking Enforcement.
The only additional suggestion I'd have for the Baseball Field
situation is that everyone should park their cars, using as much
space as possible, on the street the night before a possible
event. Also, (and I've seen this done in local neighborhoods)
put ALL your garbage cans in front of your driveways so these
other cars can't park there. In conjunction with this, you and
your neighbors could post a sign at the entrance of your street,
"Parking for Event at Baseball Field is at Bottom of the Hill
Shopping Mall." PS: I can't speak for every place, but, I called
our local Parking Enforcement and it is illegal to block even a
private driveway. They will come and give someone a ticket for
that.
I wish you the very best of luck resolving this. People can be
such a-holes. (We know darn well they would all be having hissy
fits if someone blocked their driveway!)
Please keep us posted with developments.
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