HILLSDALE, N.J.—Pascack Valley High School students will no longer be allowed to park along Liberty Avenue, and borough officials have arranged alternative parking at Stonybrook Swim Club following complaints about traffic congestion and pedestrian safety.
At the Oct. 13 Borough Council meeting, Administrator Michael Ghassali said he had met with high school administrators and arranged for students to use the swim club parking lot.
Ghassali said parking fees would be waived, but students would lose the privilege immediately if they misbehaved or abused the arrangement.
The agreement followed an Oct. 6 council discussion prompted by Liberty Avenue resident Lorraine Thalmann, who described conditions on the street as hazardous for students walking between parked cars and nearby schools.
Thalmann said at least 25 students park along Liberty Avenue, creating congestion and making it difficult for them to cross the street safely.
She questioned why students were no longer permitted to park at Stonybrook Swim Club, calling it “a safe place for them.”
Council members unanimously agreed Oct. 6 to restrict student parking on Liberty Avenue and notify the high school of the change. The borough also plans to install signs indicating the new restrictions.
The swim club lot had previously been used for student parking, but that arrangement ended following an incident in which a student allegedly drove erratically and caused substantial damage.
Councilman Chris Camp said the damage was estimated at $50,000 to $60,000.
Camp also noted that parents of Meadowbrook Elementary School students use the swim club lot for afternoon pickup.
During the Oct. 6 discussion, Mayor Michael Sheinfield said the borough was willing to negotiate with school officials about reopening the lot but needed assurances against further damage.
“If they need those extra spaces, they’re going to have to come back to us with a proposal because I feel like we have gone out of our way to accommodate them,” Sheinfield said.
Officials discussed additional monitoring, including installing a security camera overlooking the parking lot. Existing swim club cameras had monitored the pool rather than the parking area, Sheinfield said.
Ghassali suggested that reopening the lot would demonstrate “good will” toward students needing parking.
Sheinfield also questioned why students were not using available spaces along Hillsdale Avenue near Beechwood Park and walking through the park to reach the high school.
The Oct. 13 arrangement addresses the immediate question of alternative parking, although officials did not specify when the Liberty Avenue restrictions or the new swim club parking arrangement would take effect.
In a separate parking matter, the council introduced Ordinance 26-24, prohibiting parking at all times on the west side of Hopper Street from Washington Street north to the street’s termination.
The measure followed resident complaints about parking conditions. A hearing was set for Oct. 13