“This issue has been going on for four years now,” Police Chief Ronald Cundey told the Harrison Township Committee.
Police Chief Ronald Cundey has asked the Harrison Township Committee for additional sanctions against illegal parking at Pleasant Valley Field.
While not an official location, the fields are set near Pleasant Valley School, along Cedar Road. The main culprits, according to Cundey, are fans and spectators who use the road to park during Clearview Youth Football’s season.
“This issue has been going on for four years now,” he said in a public safety presentation at the Aug. 18 committee meeting. “We’ve been issuing more numerous fines, but they continue to park, of course, all over the roadway. It’s gotten to be ridiculous.
“They don’t try to assist in things and have a blatant disregard for it.”
The police department has contacted Clearview football, saying the program is responsible for the roundup of participators and spectators at events – including those from visiting teams – in accordance with a township ordinance.
The department has also sent Clearview a diagram of the area showing where people can and cannot park and has put up signs, often to no avail. The field sits on a narrow street around Cedar Road’s intersection with Walters Road.
If too many cars block the area, according to Cundey, they can hamper emergency vehicles. If a child in the nearby playground darts out onto the road, they may be difficult for a driver to see. Parking lots from nearby Pleasant Valley School can be used for games and practices.
“There’s no parking along this road at all, per township ordinance, anywhere along there,” the chief noted.
Mayor Adam Wingate said he contacted a representative from Clearview Youth Football regarding the matter.
“The blame got put on the visiting teams and away teams,” he explained. “I’m sure they’ve been told exactly what you (Cundey) just told us. My suggestion was having the home team, because it’s easier to communicate with them, to park at the upper lot and leave the available lot down below for the visiting team.”
A suggestion for enforcement included providing barricades to be placed by the football program for police to monitor.
“I think that’s the easiest thing we can communicate, or I can communicate, right now, until we can get the signs up,” noted Township Administrator Dennis Chambers.
The committee and police will continue the discussion with Clearview football as its season approaches.
