Officials want to guide proper parking at community center
City officials want to guide proper parking at community center
The Soprema Senior Center wants to see nearby parking reserved for senior center members. File photo by EMILY CANNING-DEAN
WADSWORTH – City officials want to see if more can be done to encourage motorists at the community center to use the proper parking spaces.
Councilor Patricia Haskins asked during an April 2 senior citizens commission meeting if the parking lot adjacent to WCTV and the Soprema Senior Center is meant to be reserved for senior center members and people visiting WCTV and if the parking lot that fronts the YMCA is meant for YMCA members.
“Technically, that is how it should be,” said Nancy Likens, executive director of the Soprema Senior Center.
“It’s not even close,” Haskins said.
Haskins said she stopped by WCTV the week before and noticed that the lot for the senior center and WCTV was full while there were plenty of open spaces in the parking lot that fronts the YMCA.
“I ended up parking over by the Y and for me that is no big deal, but for some of our senior center members, if they have to do that, it just isn’t right,” she said. “Just now I’m looking out the window and I have seen two people park in this lot on the side and then head to the Y.”
“I’ve been watching and I’ve just seen four people do it,” Service Director Robert Patrick said.
Likens said that whenever she is going in and out of the senior center and she sees YMCA members using the lot she will ask them if they can park in the lot that fronts the YMCA.
“Short of policing the lot, I don’t know if there is a solution,” Likens said.
Officials wondered if the addition of some signs would encourage people to park in the appropriate lots.
Patrick said there is a regular meeting among officials from the community center including the YMCA, Soprema Senior Center, WCTV and Summa. He said it might make sense to have some conversations at an upcoming meeting to see if there are any solutions.
“I hope so because it is a problem that seems to be getting worse,” Haskins said. “What is going to happen when a senior citizen is forced to park in the far lot and then slips and falls?”
Councilor Patricia Haskins asked during an April 2 senior citizens commission meeting if the parking lot adjacent to WCTV and the Soprema Senior Center is meant to be reserved for senior center members and people visiting WCTV and if the parking lot that fronts the YMCA is meant for YMCA members.
“Technically, that is how it should be,” said Nancy Likens, executive director of the Soprema Senior Center.
“It’s not even close,” Haskins said.
Haskins said she stopped by WCTV the week before and noticed that the lot for the senior center and WCTV was full while there were plenty of open spaces in the parking lot that fronts the YMCA.
“I ended up parking over by the Y and for me that is no big deal, but for some of our senior center members, if they have to do that, it just isn’t right,” she said. “Just now I’m looking out the window and I have seen two people park in this lot on the side and then head to the Y.”
“I’ve been watching and I’ve just seen four people do it,” Service Director Robert Patrick said.
Likens said that whenever she is going in and out of the senior center and she sees YMCA members using the lot she will ask them if they can park in the lot that fronts the YMCA.
“Short of policing the lot, I don’t know if there is a solution,” Likens said.
Officials wondered if the addition of some signs would encourage people to park in the appropriate lots.
Patrick said there is a regular meeting among officials from the community center including the YMCA, Soprema Senior Center, WCTV and Summa. He said it might make sense to have some conversations at an upcoming meeting to see if there are any solutions.
“I hope so because it is a problem that seems to be getting worse,” Haskins said. “What is going to happen when a senior citizen is forced to park in the far lot and then slips and falls?”
