Little League president urges speed bumps and bans on motorized bikes near Handsworth Park

Matthew Schroeder, president of Grama Park Little League, told the village board he frequently observed vehicles and motorized bikes traveling too fast near Handsworth Park during games and practices and urged immediate action to protect children.

"Long straight roadways naturally encourage speeding," Schroeder said, referencing Institute of Transportation Engineers guidance that supports vertical‑deflection measures such as speed humps and speed tables. He urged the village to consider temporary speed bumps during Little League events and to evaluate permanent traffic‑calming measures consistent with engineering guidance. He also asked that motorized bikes be prohibited from the immediate field area during league events.

Schroeder cited a historical accident in a neighboring community in 1990 where a truck reached the t‑ball field and caused multiple fatalities, arguing the village should act before a preventable tragedy occurs. He noted recent construction near Handsworth that has pushed children closer to the roadway, increasing the urgency.

Board members thanked Schroeder; the transcript records no formal motion to adopt temporary or permanent traffic measures at this meeting. Trustee D'Aferrio later proposed a villagewide standard for park‑adjacent traffic calming and a four‑way stop at Stoneroe Park for future consideration; that proposal was discussed but not acted on during the meeting.

Why it matters: Speed and roadway design are recognized contributors to pedestrian injuries. Local traffic‑calming measures can be implemented by municipalities (subject to engineering review) to reduce vehicle speeds in areas used by children.

What happens next: The board acknowledged the request; trustees suggested follow‑up and discussion through public works or traffic‑safety channels; no timeline or vote was recorded at this meeting.