Safety Commission refers Weatherstone Park parking concerns to DPW, declines No Parking request

The New Berlin Safety Commission on Jan. 14 voted 9-0 to take no action on a resident’s request to add parking or install No Parking signs on Linfield Drive near Weatherstone Park and instead referred the matter to the Department of Public Works and Parks to study ways to improve access and visibility at the Wilshire Drive pedestrian entrance.

Resident Juli Baxter asked the commission to consider creating additional parking that would extend into Weatherstone Park or, as a lower-cost option, placing No Parking signs on one side of Linfield Drive. Engineering representative Tammy Simonson told the commission that Weatherstone Park is classified as a neighborhood park, that it is open to the public (not used for scheduled sporting events), and that the city had recorded no crashes in the area over the past five years.

Lucas Pichler said creating additional parking would require funding and could change the character of the park. Commissioner Mary English and other commissioners said pedestrian activity at the park is limited and they opposed installing No Parking signs or creating new parking. Commissioner English moved to take no action and to refer the item to DPW/Parks for work on improving access and visibility at the Wilshire Drive entrance; Alderwoman Charlotte Kroupa seconded. The motion passed 9-0.

The referral asks DPW and Parks to consider physical access improvements such as trimming vegetation, adding curb ramps or path surfacing, and other low-impact measures to make the Wilshire Drive entrance more visible and usable, subject to funding and ADA requirements.