Residents Concerned Over Proposed Curb Extensions

Many residents who attended an open house for the South Dymond Road construction project expressed concern over proposed curb extensions that would allow for parallel parking along the road.

Currently Dymond Road is pretty narrow and on-street parking may restrict traffic flow. Parking is prohibited on Dymond Road from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on school days.

The village is considering adding parking for people visiting the nearby baseball and soccer fields. The proposed plans would widen Dymond Road in places and place bump-outs or curb-extensions to protect vehicles parked on the street.

“This is not an efficient use of money or parking. There’s no way to patrol this, and they’re adding an issue that doesn’t need to be added,” said Karen Kym, a Dymond Road resident.

Many residents said the fields are only used for one or two weekends in the summer for a soccer tournament. Village officials at the Open House took note of their concerns and said they will relay them to the Streets Committee.

“The general consensus of everyone who shared concerns was about the parking. It seems no one needs the parking,” said Village Administrator Kevin Bowens.

Carol McKinney, who has lived on Harms Road for eight years, said the bump-outs “are going to ruin the look and feel of the road.”

Resident BJ Jones said there should not be any extra parking because of safety issues. Jones says student and parents drive too quickly up and down Dymond Road, even as students are walking in the middle of it.

The project, which is expected to begin in May, will completely replace the deteriorated Dymond Road. It will also update underground utilities, including the installation of a storm sewer from Crane Boulevard north to Route 176.

Construction on the road is expected to begin at Crane Boulevard and move north. During the first phase of construction, a section of Dymond Road from Crane Boulevard to Harms Road will be closed for one to two weeks. Affected residents will have to enter the neighborhood from Butterfield Road.

Public Works Director John Heinz says letters explaining the construction will be sent to residents in early spring.