Handicap Parking in Ridgewood 'Deplorable', Residents Say

There simply isn't an adequate number of handicap parking spaces in Ridgewood and it's a real problem, argues one village resident.

Appearing before the village council on Wednesday, resident Denise Lima said she found it troublesome that only 18 handicap spots exist downtown for the more than 1,000 persons classified as disabled in Ridgewood.

Beside the overall lack of spots, she argued, none exist by the places they're likely to frequent most – pharmacies, the movie theater or the post office. To boot, the vendors occupy the handicap spots for the Sunday farmers market at the train station, Lima said.

She wasn't alone in her feelings.

Responding to an opinion article posted by Lima on Patch, Ann Marie Agnello described numerous woes with regard to handicap parking.

Handicap-only parking spots become "snow pile-ups" in the winter, crosswalks and sidewalks often aren't cleared properly, she said.

"As a long time resident and with a family member in a wheelchair, the handicap parking is very deplorable in ridgewood," Agnello wrote. "We stopped going to the fireworks for several years now. Also parking in town is also a problem because parallel parking spots don't work for us and the parking lots closest to the main shopping streets have such few handicapped spots. Duh, we have money to spend but we have to be able to park!" 

According to Lima, the only handicap parking spaces available for the fireworks display were at the Graydon North lot, approximately 500 feet away. It's a different story in Paramus, where Lima said parking spots were set aside much closer to the field and a golf cart went around bringing handicap attendees to areas with better views.

She requested that the village consider better accommodations next year for those with disabilities.

"I hope the mayor and council can address this," Lima said, further suggesting that seniors receive discounts for the fireworks display.

Mayor Paul Aronsohn said the village will be looking into the issues.