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Residents urge Dearborn to reopen upper Ford Field gates during daytime; mayor defends pilot to reduce traffic and safety risks
Summary
Neighbors told the council the upper parking gates at Ford Field are closing daytime access and limiting park use; the mayor said the closures are a short pilot intended to reduce dangerous cut‑through traffic and that staff will review signage and timing with the neighborhood association.
Residents from the Cherry Hill area told the Dearborn City Council that recent gate closures and fencing at the upper parking area of Ford Field have blocked daytime parking and access to the playground and scenic overlook. Maria Fogarazzi, who said she works at Ford Field and lives on Long Boulevard, asked the council to reopen the gates between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. or hold a study session so both neighborhood and park users can be heard.
Council members and Mayor Hamoud said the changes resulted from years of neighborhood concerns about speeding and reckless driving on Cherry Hill and that the administration is piloting gate closures and redirecting people to larger lots on Brady to reduce cut‑through traffic in residential blocks. The mayor said the pilot has been in effect about a week and staff will attend the neighborhood association meeting to collect feedback; he also noted a new playscape for the lower park is expected in September.
Council members acknowledged tradeoffs: some residents appreciate the safety measures while others raised practical issues such as lost parking spaces, added walking distance to the upper park and potential spillover parking on side streets. A council member suggested posting signs that say after 5 p.m. vehicles will be ticketed or towed; staff agreed to explore signage, monitored hours and further education for residents during the pilot.
The mayor said enforcement and traffic‑calming (speed humps, flashing stop signs) have already reduced certain behaviors and that park gates remain open during normal park hours while closing at night to reduce late‑night gatherings. Council members encouraged the administration to report back after the neighborhood meeting and to consider modifications that preserve access during low‑traffic daytime hours.
