TITLE
Recommendation to request City Traffic Engineer be given authorization to determine if a neighborhood is impacted by traffic increased directly due to use of a public park by permitted teams sports without charge for such study, and if such study indicates a neighborhood is parking impacted because of park use, then after a petition is circulated and affirmed by 60% of the residents, preferential parking shall be implemented. The residents shall not be charged for the signage but will have to pay for annual permits.
DISCUSSION
Because of the lack of sports facilities in Long Beach and to accommodate the growing interest in soccer and other field sports, existing public parks are being utilized to capacity and beyond, resulting in increased vehicle traffic in neighborhoods. The City is allowing more and more teams to practice and play at these parks - whose neighborhoods have not normally experienced large amounts of non-residential parking. While the City has increased access to team sports at the parks, it has not increased the number of available parking spaces to accommodate the team participants and sports fans.
The increased use by sports teams at these parks has also increased the number of hours of play at these fields which is negatively impacting neighborhoods by generating more traffic, noise, lighting, litter and parking.
Residents who live adjacent to these parks are complaining that sport participants are double parking and blocking residents' driveways for extended periods of time. Some drivers have gone over driveways and lawns to turn around. Heavy and illegal parking is endangering the children who live in the area and those who come to play sports in the parks. The police are being called out on a routine basis to respond to the resident complaints.
The residents have asked the City for relief by requesting that the City:
1. Reduce potentially hazardous traffic conditions and congestion resulting from the increased number of vehicl...
Click here for full text