Little League Traffic Troubles Addressed

Whitefish Bay officials have devised a solution for the traffic congestion on Lydell Avenue for the upcoming Whitefish Bay Little League season.

More than a dozen residents on Lydell Avenue and other neighboring streets voiced their concerns about little league traffic at a public hearing in February. Based on residents' comments, Whitefish Bay trustees rejected the Little League's stadium lights proposal and committed to finding a parking solution.

That solution may have been reached with help from the Milwaukee Jewish Federation, which has granted permission for little league parents to park in Milwaukee Jewish Day School's north parking lot, which has 93 parking stalls. From the lot, little league parents would walk about a half mile down Carl Kampus Drive to the ball fields.

Carl Kampus Drive doesn't typically see too much traffic, so with increased car and pedestrian traffic on the curvy road, Trustee Jim Roemer suggested the village install temporary speed bumps during little league season to avoid any tragedies.

With additional parking options in place, the village is limiting parking in the 6300 block of Lydell Avenue. The east side of that block will reserved solely for residents during the little league season, which runs from April 24 through July 13.

Village Manager Patrick DeGrave said police will enforce the parking restrictions on Lydell, and will also direct traffic as needed during little league games.

Over the last couple months, several residents have also requested a four-way stop sign at Lydell Avenue and Devon Street. Village officials did not feel another stop sign was necessary at this time, but if congestion continues to be a concern, DeGrave said they could revisit the issue next year.

"Let's give this new season with new parking and new alternatives a chance, because we should see a lot of relief (on Lydell) and on Devon for traffic that will park at the JCC and exit onto Santa Monica without ever using Devon," DeGrave said. "If the pressure is still there...we can always revisit as needed."

Several residents on Lydell thanked the board for their efforts on the issue, but also asked the board to monitor the situation and reconsider a stop sign at Lydell and Devon.