Elizabeth Park Speed Limit

Today, I reminded a father driving his child to soccer practice at Elizabeth Park that the speed limit is 15 mph. He yelled for me to mind my own "bleeping" (I'm sure you know what word he said) business. What a fine example for the child riding in the car.

Before a human tragedy happens due to the speeding cars and careless drivers (half of them are on their cell phones while driving) who make illegal U-turns within the park, especially the fishermen and the hundreds of soccer parents and grandparents, something needs to be done. I am one of many daily visitors in Elizabeth Park in Trenton. On any given day and time, there are several, and people with strollers/bikes/skates/walkers. The park also has its own residents: the squirrels, ducks, geese, deer, and raccoons. We have seen our share of flattened wildlife.

There are TWELVE 15-mph speed limit signs in the park (even one just as you cross over the bridge!), but they and the TWO No U-Turn signs and SEVERAL No Parking/Stopping/Standing signs are widely ignored by those speeding through the park. Often, the drivers are distracted while on the phone and come too close to those along the sides of the road. Sometimes, people miss the jog on West Jefferson and inadvertently end up driving through the park, but it’s a PARK, not a racetrack. There is no excuse for speeding.

We pedestrians have voiced our traffic concerns to the law enforcement officers at the Wayne County Sheriff’s office and Wayne County Parks department. I have spoken with the church group (First Presbyterian of Trenton) who sponsors the soccer teams and with the coach himself to advise the parents of the 15-mph speed limit, but each year it gets worse. I am often met with hostility when I try to remind the speeders of the limit.

Follow the law and the signs. There are enough of them in Elizabeth Park; the locations are below:

ELIZABETH PARK 15 MPH SPEED LIMIT SIGN LOCATIONS

1st Right side – over the bridge: entry to park, under the duck crossing sign.

2nd Left side – just over the hill of park entry. Original sign.

3rd Right side – just after the large group of trees begins, before the path opening.

4th Left side - before the west comfort station, across from exercise equipment.

5th Right side – between the west comfort station, shelter, and the playscape.

6th Left side – before the curve approaching the marina entrance.

7th Right side – just past the marina entrance, across from streetlight.

8th Left side - at driveway near playscape/skateboard area, but before the chateau.

9th Left side - north end of baseball field fence.

10th Right side – past concession stand, approaching the large shelter building.

11th Left side – past pony concession but before driveway.

12th Right side – near handicapped fishing area leaving the park.