The neighborhood that Moorman Park is supposed to serve is being harmed by the Quincy Park District’s choice to erect so many large speed bumps there. Many locals, even longtime park visitors, have told me that these needless barriers have caused them to stop going completely.
There are too many, and they are the incorrect kind, which is the problem. The existing bumps are not intended for park roadways; rather, they are for parking lots. Drivers, pedestrians, bikers, passengers, and even the cars themselves find them unpleasant, abrasive, and unfriendly. Wider, more progressive speed bumps are better solutions; they still impede traffic but do not penalize drivers who drive at reasonable speeds. Although they are more expensive, they are the ideal choice for the situation.
The fact that two of these bumps are positioned right before the main park intersection, which already has stop signs, is even more perplexing. This is a classic example of government excess; speed is already controlled by stop signs. It is unnecessary and unreasonable to double up with speed bumps here; they should be removed right now.
A superior approach has previously been demonstrated by the City of Quincy. The speed bump that was put in place on South 38th Street next to Tuscany Drive is efficient without being harsh. In Moorman Park, a comparable design that is modified to account for the inherently slower speeds found in park environments would make much more sense.
The Park District should think about removing the bumps completely and putting up speed cameras in key locations with rigorous enforcement if it is genuinely concerned about public safety. By doing this, speeds would be controlled without alienating families, senior citizens, and casual guests.
The public owns the parks. Instead of being destinations people avoid due to ill-conceived, shortsighted traffic management methods, they need to be destinations they eagerly anticipate visiting. I implore the Quincy Park District to go back in time, eliminate the unnecessary hiccups, and install a system that genuinely benefits the community in its stead.
Poepping, Patrick
[email protected]
(217) 653-9709
62305 Quincy, IL
