On January 18, the Gorham Police Department (GPD) issued a Public Notice regarding the public parking surrounding Gorham High School (GHS).
Most people know that limited parking at GHS has been an ongoing issue for years. Due to the limited number of available parking spaces, students and visitors are forced to use public parking spaces in the area surrounding the GHS campus, which has caused some situations where vehicles are parking illegally, according to the GPD.
In an effort to avoid issues of emergency vehicles from arriving in a timely manner or accessing fire hydrants, neighboring residents being unable to access their driveways, or snow removal equipment not being able to work effectively, GPD issued the following reminders:
Morrill Avenue, Douglass Street, and Sylvan Road are posted as 1-hour parking.
There is no parking anywhere on Ball Park Road.
There is no parking on the north side of Access Road.
Rackleff Way is private property.
Vehicles cannot park within 10 feet of a fire hydrant, within five feet of a public/private driveway, or as prohibited by signage.
The parking lot at the Municipal Center is posted as 2-hour parking.
A section of the Municipal Center parking lot is posted Library Parking Only.
Parked vehicles must be facing the same direction as the legal traffic flow of the adjacent travel lane, and the wheels must be within 12 inches of the curb or roadway edge.
The nearest under-utilized parking is on South Street. The parking is limited to 2 hours in front of the library, but there are many unrestricted spots nearby.
Photo credit Leslie DupuisStudents at Gorham High School take advantage of a small parking area off of Morrill Ave.
Gorham PD issued this notice as a first step in the educational process. If vehicles continue to park illegally, the GPD will warn first-time offenders. Subsequent violations may result in enforcement action.
“It is not the desire of the Gorham Police Department to cite students/visitors who are trying to learn or are otherwise at the school for lawful purposes, but we are tasked with enforcing the parking laws/ordinances as they are written,” said the GPD in the notice.
In response to the notice, several parents commented on Facebook that it would be helpful to have a notice of alternative spots for parking and for the already limited parking spots to be plowed in a way that parking is not further limited during the winter months.
Brian Jandreau, GHS principal, stated that there are 240 parking spots at GHS; 110 are reserved for staff and the rest are for seniors. Currently there are 200 seniors. “I truly wish there were more parking for seniors.”
An additional parking lot by the new portables off Morrill Avenue was approved last year but the budget didn’t allow for the resources to have it built.
“At this time, there is not money allocated to pay for additional parking by the portables. However, these conversations will be ongoing throughout the budget process,” said Jandreau.
One Facebook responder reminded parents that overflow parking at the Gorham Middle School with bus service to GHS was offered two years ago. However, when Jandreau polled students, only one student expressed interest so the idea was dismissed. He believes the reason students didn’t show interest is because they don’t want to take the bus or walk to/from the middle school.
Additionally, those students who are involved in sports, take early college course at USM or SMCC, have after school jobs, or need to get home to take care of a sibling, etc., may feel they don’t have time to catch the bus to the middle school to get their car after school. Jandreau is willing to open that option up again to students if there is enough interest.
Gorham PD will continue to work with GHS administration, Gorham Public Works, and the Town Manager’s office to try to find creative long-term solutions.