Washington School Parking ProblSeptember 22, 2003
Dubuque City Council
City Clerk Office - City Hall
50 West 13th Street
Dubuque, Iowa 52001
To Whom It May Concern:
Having been a tong-time resident of the Washington School/Lombard Street area, I am
writing this letter at the recommendation of a representative of the City Engineering
Deparh'nent. I am hopeful that a serious traffic situation can be addressed _before
someone's child is seriouslyinjured.
On Monday, September 15th and again Thursday, September 18th as I returned home
from work at/around 5:00pm, cars were parked on both sides of Lombard Street from
Washington School thru two blocks west on Lombard. I negotiated the one lane
available at the slowest speed possible, while keeping an eye out for children, open car
doors, cars coming from the west up the hill on Lombard, and turning traffic from the
school driveway. (There were a number of open parking spaces available in the parking
areas in front, beside and behind the school)
The concerns: Children are at risk. While the above was in broad daylight, ~vhat happens
when fall/winter approaches and it would be dusk at this time? While no one in the
neighborhood wants parking restricted and then have people parking in their driveway~
there must be some code that spells out parking spaces required for the school/field area?
With parking on both sides of the street, there is no clear view to the driver of persons
crossing the street and going to their cars.
Suggestions: 1) Restrict parking to residential-side only from the school driveway in rear
of school to just past the Washington field backstop area. 2) Restrict parking to resident-
only. 3) Require Washington School have someone directing traffic in this area for after-
school, school functions, open nights, etc.
A couple of years ago, I was a member of a jury deciding a personal injury case filed
against Dubuque Community School District. This involved an individual who fell going
to a sports event held at a school field. One of the deciding factors fmding in favor of the
Dubuque Community Schools was the fact they had done everything possible to inform
those attending of appropriate access and parking, with directional signs and caution
notices. Have we done all we can in this situation?
I sincerelY thank you for your time and attention to this matter and would appreciate a
respon~~.,,~ ~
Cc: Dubuque Community SChool District
Dubuque Public Works Administration