Village Targets Nazareth Students' Parking

LA GRANGE PARK, IL – La Grange Park recently extended parking restrictions 10 blocks away from Nazareth Academy.

Signs have been placed informing drivers that street parking is banned from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. on school days, except by permit.

This had already been the case since 2006 for the three blocks east of the Catholic high school. But the Village Board decided in April to expand that by another seven blocks.

The Salt Creek Woods Natural Preserve is on two sides of the school.

When so many students park in the neighborhood, that can pose challenges to traffic and emergency vehicle access, the village said.

Some residents are wondering why the village extended the parking restrictions so far away from the school.

In an email to Patch, Village Manager Julia Cedillo said officials wanted to solve the problem, not shift it.

She said students are highly motivated to park because they want or must drive to school. And they aim to find the closest available street, even if they have to walk, she said.

"The Village chose the parameters of the restrictions because we did not want residents in the area to feel as though we were moving the problem to their block," Cedillo said. "Expanded restrictions will cause the parkers to move to the first unrestricted street, and other parkers tend to follow suit and there will be clusters of parked cars."

The 17-year-old restrictions on the closest streets have been effective and well-received, Cedilllo said.

"The signs are necessary because the law requires that we provide posted notice for parking regulations," she said. "We made the signs as small as possible, being sensitive to that concern."

In an interview with Patch, Nazareth's president, Deborah Tracy, said the school's goal is to be a good neighbor and that she respects what the village has done.

"The students should abide by whatever restrictions the village has in place," she said.

For a fee, the school provides parking for all junior and senior drivers. She declined to give the amount of the fee, but said Nazareth works with families to make sure the cost is affordable.

Part of the issue, Tracy said, is sophomores who are old enough to drive.

"We do not provide parking for sophomores. In my experience, that has added to the problem in the village," she said.

On Wednesday, the village delivered a letter to homes in the neighborhood about the new signs. It previously provided information in its online newsletters.

According to the letter, the parking issue was discussed at a number of village meetings, starting in November.

A resident's annual vehicle sticker serves as a homeowner's permit to park on the street between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. Upon request, the village said it will provide placards that homeowners can provide their guests.