Residents “held hostage” by parking issues

The lack of parking in one Oshawa neighborhood has residents pleading to council for help.

The Cowan Park neighborhood along Olive Avenue consists of 60 row houses, but only has 28 parking spots. Because Olive is on a bus route, residents are not allowed to park on the street, and are forced to fight over spaces in a small lot across the street. Parking in the lot of the nearby neighborhood park will net you a $500 fine, residents told the community services committee.

“We’re held hostage to the parking lot now,” said Ted Dulny, a local resident.

Several others told tales of not being able to invite family to visit or have friends for dinner because there’s nowhere for them to park their cars. Some elderly residents are afraid to leave their homes because they won’t have anywhere else to park.

“There has to be something we can do,” said Cherly Thornton, who offered to pave over her flower-filled front lawn just to have a parking space.

“I’m totally willing to give that up,” she said.

The issue was referred back to staff for a report.