As students and teachers arrived back on the grounds of Dulaney High School, many received a surprising welcome from the residents surrounding the school: parking restrictions. These restrictions apply to the residential sides of Padonia and Treherne Road, where many students have parked the last couple of years. County implementations require permits to park at that location, even for the residents.
These restrictions are in place from Monday through Friday during the school day. Residents who notice any violators of the new restrictions can call the police, who then promptly ticket and tow the car of the violator.

Although the restrictions were successfully enforced, they were met with indignation. Several students have stated their grievances with the new rules. Junior Allie Mercer recalls her freshman year when her older sister would drive her to school before the parking restrictions.

“[We would] get to school at 7:30 and still get a pretty good spot,” said Mercer.

Now licensed, she explained that the limited parking space has affected everyone’s morning routine.
“I definitely have to wake up a lot earlier, which I don’t really mind. But I know for some people…that live in like Jacksonville… like 20 minutes away; that’s a big adjustment to their morning,” Mercer said.

Additionally, senior Sowmya Potluri claimed that limited parking on the streets has led to the disrespect of the senior parking lot.

“I think some of the seniors are definitely affected by the parking restrictions, and also I think it gives juniors more of a motive to park in the senior parking lot. I’ve definitely seen a couple people park there,” Potluri said.

According to Officer Berg, the student resource officer at Dulaney, this change came after years of continuous complaints by the residents. They petitioned the city council to enforce a residential parking permit since students were not parking safely on their side of the street.

While this has sparked outrage amongst the Dulaney student body, the Dulaney administration had no involvement in this decision. Vice Principal Christopher Parker clarified it is the neighborhood enforcing these restrictions.

“Other than it being the other side of our street that we used to get to park on, we don’t have anything to do with it,” Parker said. “Without asking us. They just decided that [the roads] would be permit controlled.”

Residents have been upset about the parking for years, yet there was no clear communication between the neighborhood and the school to voice these complaints.

“I can’t say that we got any phone calls,” Parker said. “It’s just sad that there couldn’t be conversation prior to action.”

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