file photo by Boyd Loving
JANUARY 22, 2016 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2016, 12:31 AM
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Trouble finding parking at RHS
to the editor:
On Jan. 14, I received a reminder from a fellow parent regarding a pre-high school orientation at RHS at 7.30 p.m. My son attends GW Middle School (eighth grade). After receiving this reminder, and realizing it was 6.45 p.m., I quickly put a jacket on even though I was still in my gym clothes and with a sore throat. I had to make it.
Once I arrived, I made a left turn into the second parking lot (where the RHS marching band truck is parked). It was no later than 7.15 p.m. when I started circling this first lot, then I was excited to see that a car close to the door was going to pull out; actually it was just a parent who probably rushed and left her lights on. I continued circling, then exited this parking lot and turned into the one-way parking lot which was completely full and where parents were parking in the “No Parking Any Time” zone. I decided that’s not going to be me and continued to the original lot; of course at this point lots of parents were probably going around in circles like me, or were just running out of time.
At 7.44 p.m. I received a text from another concerned parent: “Where are you? ”
I stopped and answered: “Driving around trying to find parking, cannot park, not feeling well.”
Parent response: “You have to try.”
So try I did; all of a sudden the arrows were completely confusing. I even had a parent yell at the top of her lungs as in the Mr. Mom movie: “You are doing it wrong.”
At this point it was close to 8. I never give up, but after dealing with tiger moms, helicopter parents and other moms waving their hands in the air in frustration — “We are leaving there is no parking anywhere” — I too exited and did not end up attending the meeting.
I moved to Ridgewood as a single parent of one (widow) in 2007. I want my son to excel; however, is this what we look forward to? How early should one arrive to a meeting? Since there are two middle schools attending this meeting (GW and BF parents), why not split them up? I announced to my family (elderly mother, son and cat) after almost having a panic attack that I would put my for sale sign up the next day. I pay way too much in property taxes to not have a parking place and I refuse to park illegally just to find out I have a ticket or get towed.
My son is adamant about staying in Ridgewood; now I completely understand why outsiders or even locals have to drive around in circles and their frustration. I live two blocks from downtown, so I never had that problem. RHS needs to have a separate orientation just to address and explain the two parking lots to all mom and dads so we don’t “do it wrong.”
Adriana Blauvelt
Ridgewood
We need a parking garage at the High School.
Same thing happens at ridge, orchard etc. our schools were not made for so many large cars and the amount of volume they receive. Ever try parking for a one o’clock class at the library? A sports event at vets? Valley hospital? It is not realistic to out a garage near every destination and I do not think hundreds of new apartments will help at all.
Just maybe if some of the parents car pooled it would not be so bad.
Seriously, there was probably one adult in every car. Carpool
It is not often that the school hosts such a large group, plan ahead with your neighbors.
Splitting the orientation was a good idea too. Why have all parents at once.
Why write a letter to the editor? This person should realize that there are things that she can do to mitigate the problem.
If you live two blocks from downtown, why didn’t you WALK?? It’s one mile from your house to RHS . . . about a 15 minutes walk. When the high school has meetings and functions, many parents just walk over. Or get dropped off nearby. Give it a try.
And wouldn’t having two meetings mean we would have to pay the staff twice instead of once?
Bye, bye Adriana.
Park on Brookside and walk over. Never fails even for Friday night football games.
People don’t even walk in spring and summer in this town…ironic that people drive to exercise and yoga classes when reasonable to walk as well.
What is a letter to the editor going to do about a problem finding a parking spot? Give it some thought and solve the problem yourself.
This person drove around for 45 minutes looking for a parking spot? Is is this a joke? Park and walk… 10 minute walk from spring tops. If your too lazy, hire a driver or uber. Your son goes to GW I am sure you can afford it.