'Extreme Congestion' On Elmhurst Street: City

ELMHURST, IL – Elmhurst is considering restricting parking on a residential street where neighbors say problems have increased in the last couple of years.

The street in question is Emroy Avenue, from Gladys Avenue to the dead-end at Crestview Park.

In a letter to residents earlier this month, City Engineer Kent Johnson said allowing parking on both sides of the street is causing "extreme congestion," prompting safety concerns.

The problem gets worse, he said, when baseball, soccer and pickleball activities are taking place at the park.

The city is considering placing "No Parking" signs on the west side of the street. It invited residents to provide feedback at Monday's Public Safety Committee meeting.

A few residents have emailed responses to the letter.

Rachel and Ryan Ponton said people are parking the wrong way and in front of fire hydrants.

"Parking on both sides of the street (means) that only one car can fit through, leading to stand-offs as cars are trying to come in and others are leaving," they said. "This is especially dangerous on a dead-end street as it would be very difficult for emergency vehicles to be able to access, and frankly, it is also very unfair to the people who live here who are not able to easily come and go from their houses."

One evening, the Pontons said, the postal carrier parked his truck in the middle of the street and walked the block to deliver the mail because he could not pull up to mailboxes.

"We were stuck waiting to leave until he completed the entire block," they said.

Georgianna Ginino, another Emroy resident, said she was happy to receive the city's proposal.

"I have lived in this house for over 60 years and never had a problem with people going to the park," she said. "Over the past couple of years with the sports activities, people coming here have been inconsiderate of our property. They throw their trash on our lawn. They drive up over the curb onto the lawn. They park with the rear end of their vehicle into our driveway, so we cannot get in and out."

Ginino said she would go a step further, banning parking on both sides of the street. She said two parking lots are available for park users.

The city committee plans to discuss the issue during its meeting at 7 p.m. Monday at City Hall.