No Action Taken on DeMatha Parking

, the Hyattsville City Council took no action on a proposal to create new parking restrictions near Instead, city councilmembers said that more public input was needed from residents in the area before they could approve the measure.

According to a memo from Hyattsville City Police Patrol Services Commander Lt. Mark Roski to the City Council, The restrictions were requested with an eye towards making it easier to deal with the deluge of students being picked up and dropped off at the high school.

School officials originally wanted no parking on 44th Avenue between Madison and Oglethorpe streets from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on school days.  They also requested a round-the-clock no parking area on Madison Street between 44th and Baltimore avenues.

Hyattsville Police took DeMatha's suggestions to heart, but made some modifications. They recommend that the City Council install signs restricting parking between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. on weekdays  only on the East side of 44th Avenue between Madison and Oglethorpe streets. They also recommend that the City Council install no parking signs for the hours of 7 a.m. through 3 p.m. on weekdays on both sides of Madison Street between 44th and Baltimore avenues.

Ward One Councilmember Candace Hollingsworth said that the parking restrictions had the potential to disrupt the parking of the school's residential neighbors.

"I'd like to see some recommendations from the police about how we can better manage this issue of both congestion, safety and consideration for neighbors," said Hollinsworth.