Parking Becoming Safety Concern at DeFazio, Says Park & Rec.

Needham Park and Recreation has a message for all users of the baseball diamonds at DeFazio Park: Park in the designated lots before someone gets seriously hurt.

According to Patty Carey, director of Park and Rec., parents and coaches related to the baseball games are parking on Dedham Ave., and across the street at George Aggott Rd. and Sutton Rd.  Vehicles should be parking in the DeFazio or Department of Public Works lots, said Carey, and those not following this rule are creating a major safety issue.

"The first concern is for the safety of children crossing such a busy road with speeding cars," Carey said.

DeFazio is a hotbed of activity during the spring and summer months, with several Little League teams recently taking part in championship games. Carey believes that some parents are dropping their children off on one of the busy streets in an effort to save time, but the act is putting kids in harms way of cars speeding off of the highway down one of Needham's most traversed roads.

"We don't want to wait for something tragic to happen to get parents to finally realize this unsafe behavior should stop," Carey related. "No family should have to live with the consequences."

Another issue that the parking situation brings up, said Carey, is a blockage of driveways meant for emergency vehicle use. According to Carey, there also appears to be a lack understanding of the rules by some residents.

"The police have a barrel out on George Aggott stating 'No DeFazio parking.'  One coach actually drove his car onto the field area at DeFazio," Carey said.

Lieutenant Chris Baker of the Needham Police Department said that few calls have come in thus far regarding the situation, but that there is potential for trouble.

"We have made officers aware of the safety concerns and it is being monitored," he said.