Green Bay traffic panel approves 15 mph by dog park, updates school parking and signs for new elementary

The Green Bay traffic committee on an evening meeting approved a set of neighborhood traffic actions, foremost among them a plan to post a 15-mph sign on Pleasant Lane near a popular dog park and visitor center.

Consultant Andy Raul of Ayers and Associates told the committee the road is narrow and recommended posting 15 mph at the park entrance and 25 mph farther toward Mason Street; he said existing speed data showed most drivers travel under 20 mph but recommended the lower posted limit near the park to improve safety. "So at least that's the first step if you want to try to enforce someone who's getting through there, you know, sign," Raul said.

Why it matters: Residents and committee members cited near-misses where visitors to the dog park and a new visitor center could bring more traffic and increase risk at a curve and downhill approach. The committee moved to implement the 15-mph signage as recommended and the motion passed with no recorded opposition.

The committee also considered several neighborhood control requests. Neighbors asked for stop or yield control at Buckthorn and Crestwood; staff and the consultant reported very low average daily traffic, good sight lines and no recent crash history and recommended no change. The panel voted to receive that referral and place it on file without adding control measures.

In a separate item, the panel discussed a request to study traffic control at Tyrolean Drive near South LeCactus Circle. After debate about consistency and the risk of opening many similar requests across the city, a committee member moved to deny the study request; the motion passed.

School-area updates: Chris Coller, safety and security manager for Green Bay Area Public Schools, asked the committee to reconsider parking and curb rules around Martin Luther King Elementary to reduce end-of-day congestion and the number of parents choosing to stop in restricted zones. Coller said the school can hold about 400 students but currently enrolls a little over 200, and that limited legal parking forces some parents to risk citations. "Where if we could open up some legal parking, we're hoping that will promote parents then going across with their kids," he said. The committee approved a motion to eliminate parking restrictions south of the school property line and to change the west-side signage from "no stopping/no standing" to "no parking" during school-day hours as a pilot step.

The committee also approved the parking and signage plan for the new Bart Starr Elementary, including crosswalk marking and adjustments to bus-loading zones, after the school district presented a layout showing a dedicated drop-off lane and roughly 50–60 parking spaces that will serve parents and staff.

Votes at a glance: - Pleasant Lane speed signs (post 15 mph near dog park): motion passed (no recorded opposition). - Buckthorn/Crestwood request: referral received and placed on file. - Tyrolean Drive study request: motion to deny passed. - Martin Luther King Elementary: motion to remove south-lot-line parking restrictions and change west-side controls to "no parking" during school hours: motion passed. - Bart Starr Elementary signage and crosswalk: motion to approve design passed.

What’s next: Implementation of new signs and changes to parking restrictions will require city staff scheduling and sign installation; the schools said they will continue outreach to parents explaining new curb rules. The committee is expected to monitor the pilot changes at Martin Luther King Elementary and report back if enforcement or circulation problems persist.