Village Officials Ban Parking at Flossmoor Hills School During Drop-Off and Pick-Up

trustees unanimously approved an ordinance amendment Monday, Dec. 5 that will ban parking on streets surrounding during morning pick-up and afternoon drop-off, citing safety concerns.

Trustee Jim Crum said the issue began with concerns from members of the Flossmoor Hills/Highlands Civic Association about the traffic during those times on school days.

"It's actually been discussed at two civic association meetings," Crum said. "The people who were voicing the most displeasure are now very pleased that something is being done on it."

The issue was then brought to the Nov. 21 village board meeting and presented to the trustees by Police Chief William Miller.

After meeting with Flossmoor Hills Principal Karen Johnson, the two "agreed that parking restrictions similar to those in place at since the early 1990s are worth putting in place at Flossmoor Hills School," Miller wrote in a memo to Village Manager Bridget Wachtel.

Parking will be prohibited on school days from 8:15 a.m. and from 3:15 p.m. as follows:

• South side of Beech Street from Avers Avenue to Ash Street.
• East side of Elm Street from Brumley Drive to 821 Elm Street.
• West side of Maple Road from Beech Street to 818 Maple Road.
• West side of Hamlin Avenue from 18740 Hamlin Avenue to 18840 Hamlin Avenue.

Speaking about Beech Street in particular, Crum noted, "There were cars parked on both sides of the street and there was just barely room for one car to go in one direction. So what was happening is that kids were darting across.

"You can say, 'Well, they can go out on the curb side,'" he continued. "But if there's snow, you can't get out on the curb side. So it was an accident waiting to happen."

Crum said hopefully the amendment will fix the problem.

"The only thing left to see now is the cooperation of the parents," Crum said. "It's their kids we're trying to protect."