Students, Residents debate over issue
By: Michael Noveck
The lack of parking availability at Lawrence High School is leading to a debate between the students and some members of the community.
Residents of several streets across from the high school are pushing the Lawrence Township Council to install a permit parking system for their area. This would prevent an overflow from the high school parking lot from parking outside their houses.
The streets in question are Lannigan and Whitemarsh Drives, Hilsdale and Gainsboro Roads, Hoover, Foch, Hughes, and Glenn Avenues, and Mink Court. All or parts of these streets may be subject to permit parking.
Scott Noveck, a Lawrence High student, says the school appropriates 166 spaces for student parking. However, there are approximately 300 students per grade, he says.
"In addition to those seniors who are not granted parking spaces in the student portion of the lot, there are many juniors who also need to park their cars," Scott says. "Parking on the streets behind the high school was banned several years ago, so students desperate for parking must park on the streets in front of the school."
Residents on the streets surrounding the school are complaining of rude student behavior. They also report that driveways and mailboxes are frequently blocked.
In contrast, Noveck says, "Lawrence Township police actively ticket along these streets, and students are aware of this and make sure not to park in areas that block other vehicles."
According to Scott, students need to drive to school in order to maintain membership in extracurricular activities. He says that participation in these clubs is necessary in order to attend competitive colleges.
Scott’s mother, Helaine Noveck, is sympathetic towards the residents. "While the community has valid complaints about the behavior of the students, it’s unfair to forbid parking on the (high school’s) neighboring streets. A compromise must be reached that addresses both the rights of the students and the community," Mrs. Noveck says.
Several solutions besides issuing permits have been mentioned. Among them are limiting parking to one side of the street or issuing some permits to the school, which would be subsequently transferred to the students.
According to Lawrence High secretary Barbra Wooley, "There has been no formal decision yet." The Township Council is expected to act soon on the issue.