The Waikato’s club and school sports community is being urged to Park Smarter as the winter codes click up a gear in coming weeks.

Several of Hamilton’s parks are a focal point for the region’s school and club winter sports, resulting in an influx of vehicles into the neighbourhoods around some of the busiest parks. The senior codes have started, and junior competitions begin in coming weeks.

Jason Harrison, Hamilton City Council’s City Transportation Manager, is urging the region’s sports community to park sensibly and responsibly around the city.

“The winter sports season does present us with a real challenge in managing parking and vehicle flows around some of our busiest parks,” Mr Harrison says.

“We need to have confidence residents in these busy neighbourhoods can get into and out of their properties, and the sports community follows the guidance in our ongoing Park Smarter campaign.”

Families, teams and supporters attending club and school sports are urged to:

• Park safely at all times.
• Not park across neighbouring residents’ driveways.
• Not park vehicles on broken yellow lines, or “no stopping” areas.
• Not block footpaths, shared paths or cycle lanes.
• Not park at the end of a cul de sac streets in a way which prevents other vehicles from turning.
• Drive cautiously and stay aware of pedestrians, particularly children.
• Ensure any stray match balls are retrieved by an adult.

Mr Harrison says the Council receives complaints from residents around sports parks when visitors to those neighbourhoods park inappropriately.

“This is a very frustrating situation for some residents and they’re quick to let us know about that. We’re dealing with parking which is putting pedestrians, road users and residents at risk.”

Mr Harrison says members of the Council’s Parking Team will be circulating around some of the busiest winter sports park neighbourhoods to monitor parking with an initial focus on an educational approach.

“We want to work with the amateur sports community to keep traffic flowing and ensure parking is sensible – but our staff will issue tickets if it’s warranted.”

The sports community can ease some of the pressure on parking in sports parks neighbourhoods by carpooling, walking or cycling to nearby matches, or by leaving enough time to park appropriately in a neighbourhood and walk to a venue.

“Courtesy and forethought are the keys for the community supporting us in managing this challenge,” he says.

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