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Residents ask Gardena to ease 24‑hour parking rules near Raleigh Park; council offers to review
Summary
Speakers at public comment urged the council to reconsider 24‑hour residential parking restrictions around Raleigh Park, citing seniors and park users who need daytime parking; other speakers raised vehicle theft and neighborhood safety concerns. Councilmembers directed staff to follow up with appropriate departments.
Several residents and community leaders used the public‑comment period to ask the council to reevaluate parking restrictions and address public safety near Raleigh Park.
Dr. Rachel Johnson, president of the Gardena Holly Park Community Association, said members repeatedly report daytime parking shortages on the west side of the street near the park and urged staff to consider eliminating 24‑hour restrictions or revising hours to allow daytime parking (for example, allowing parking from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., with permit requirements overnight).
“Every month we have members that continuously share their frustrations of not being able to park on the west side of the street during the daytime hours,” Dr. Johnson said. She asked the city to “reevaluate the districts, in particularly the 24 hour nature of those districts,” to ease access for seniors and visitors.
Other speakers described neighborhood safety and nuisance concerns. Deborah Griffin, who lives across from Raleigh Park, recounted near‑fatal accidents on nearby streets and asked for stricter controls to protect residents. Barbara Phillips and members of the park’s user groups urged limited daytime parking to accommodate program participants.
Separately, resident Shin Fishton described a personal vehicle theft from a Bank of America parking lot and urged the city to consider stronger enforcement or license‑plate reader technology in problem locations. The mayor suggested Mr. Fishton speak directly with the police chief after the meeting to provide details for follow‑up.
Council response: Councilmembers acknowledged the concerns and directed staff to follow up with the police and parking/transportation teams to evaluate permit hours and enforcement options.
Why it matters: Parking restrictions and enforcement affect residents’ daily access and seniors' ability to attend local programs; the council’s review could change permit hours and enforcement that affect neighborhood parking availability.
