Midland Park officials react to parking woes near Ridge Elementary School in Ridgewood
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2014
BY LYNN BRUGGEMANN
CORRESPONDENT
MIDLAND PARK SUBURBAN NEWS
MIDLAND PARK – Maltbie Avenue residents whose driveways are being blocked by cars of parents picking up their children from nearby Ridge Elementary School in Ridgewood will be given the chance to decide what option the governing body will take to remedy the situation.
Mayor Patrick “Bud” O’Hagan told the Borough Council at its Feb. 20 meeting that he was made aware of the situation when Maltbie Avenue residents Arthur and Abbey Marchetti attended a recent Saturday morning “Coffee With the Mayor.”
“These residents told me how frustrated they are that they are not able to get in or out of their own driveways,” O’Hagan said. “It is a narrow street and cars double-park to pick up their children.”
Maltbie intersects Franklin Avenue where it becomes West Ridgewood Avenue, perpendicular to Ridge Elementary School at 325 W. Ridgewood Ave.
Council members said they had discussed the predicament and suggest two options: striping the road to designate parking areas or restricting parking to one side of the road.
“Let’s hear what is acceptable to the residents,” said Councilwoman Nancy Cronk Peet.
Borough Clerk and Administrator Adeline Hanna was instructed by the governing body to send certified letters to the residents with homes on Maltbie.
Parking near any school is out of control in the village and just seems to get worse while on the rare occasion that a police officer is there he or she does nothing.
I’d love to see the Midland Park PD ticket these inconsiderate drivers.
They block West Ridgewood ave and its impossible for 2 way traffic to get through.
I agree that RW Ave is a mess but maybe buying next to a school wasn’t the best idea.
Try letting the kids walk to school it will do them good !
It is about driving and safety. Buying near a school does not mean that parents can ignore parking/standing rules, blocking driveways and oncoming traffic. They are clogging the road because they are the laziest and most selfish pack of parents in the area. The council had an opportunity to address this last year and they did nothing. We need Midland Park to step in and enforce the law.
Many could benefit from a brisk WALK to Ridge. Try setting an example for the kids.
It never used to be a problem. We lived here since 1969.
Its the new ‘entitled’ group, aka ‘helicopter parents’ of the ‘me me me’ generation.
OK…so relinquish your right to use your driveway when you buy near a school? ….oh the entitled ones.
They should line up on one side of Ridgewood Ave and the li e can slowly advance. This is what was proposed to the council. Parents did not like this. They like to drop their kids off across the street and then play a real life game of frogger.
I want to drive my car/ park / make noise anywhere I want and if you don’t like it, you shouldn’t have bought a house where I want to do it.
Mememememememememememememe
Happens all over town. What about having manners and consideration for others?
I just noticed today for the first time that Somerville parents are now parking on Spring Avenue, east and west of South Pleasant, making that street a nightmare to drive on during afternoon dismissal time.
Willard is almost as bad. But Ridge ‘takes the cake”.
Ridge is the worst.
I have been called a bitch by one and given the finger by another because people had jaywalked right in front of my moving car – I nearly hit them. If you honk you get called names. There are so many people here who care only about themselves – right or wrong – and the hell with anyone who stands in their way. Its terrible.
Perhaps it’s time for the local resident to break out the video cameras and send the video’s to the mayor and council. I know several of the cops personally and they’ve made suggestions and left reports but the mayor and council have refused to act in the past for fear of pissing off to many soccer moms, and the soccer moms are the ones who vote.!
Ridge moms are the worst. Entitled and ever so important.
The soccer moms are distracted by the lacrosse dads. It’s a threat to our social fabric.
LOL#15!!!!!