The more Mary Jaap talked about the parking crunch near the new East High School, the more riled up she got.
"We pay more and more taxes," she said, "and then you can't park in front of your own house? I think that's absolutely ridiculous."
Jaap was among about 100 residents who turned out for a public meeting in the school's auditorium Tuesday night to discuss East's parking issues. The meeting was hosted by the city of Duluth and the Duluth school district.
Residents near East are seeing parking spots near their homes taken by East students during the day. While a residential permit parking zone extends four blocks up 40th Avenue East, students have been parking beyond the area up the hill and on residential streets, especially along Gladstone Street.
"Usually students are not willing to walk more than five or six blocks," said Sharon Dawson who was among 20 residents and parents who spoke out.
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That's made 40th Avenue East very dangerous, she said, because the students are inexperienced drivers, on narrow streets where children play.
Others cited concerns about unsafe, icy conditions in winter, dim lighting and snow forcing some into streets in the winter. Some said their neighborhood has been hurt and their property values will go down if they can't park in front of their own homes. And several accused the school district of not adequately planning for parking.
Kerry Leider, the school district's property manager, said that an early plan would have added 50 more parking spots below nearby railroad tracks. But that plan was blocked by residents.
To discourage student driving, Leider said the district will consider designating it a closed campus to prevent students from leaving the school grounds during the day.
But the biggest move would be the city's proposal to expand the permitted parking zone further east from four blocks to 10 blocks.
"We're going to continue to work with the city," Leider promised those at the meeting. "The expanded zone is needed."
Another idea is to allow two or three student parking spots per block, designated by a post. It's an idea Leider said he liked.
"There is no good, easy answer," said Steve Marshik, a parent. "Don't say they can't park here, without giving them an option of where they can park. Otherwise, you're going to lose control."
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Another parent said she would happily pay for a parking permit for her son, but he couldn't get one.
