DLHS student brings High School parking concerns to City Council

DLHS junior Ross Hanson addresses the Detroit Lakes City Council during the public forum, addressing concerns about the student parking situation at DLHS.

Detroit Lakes, MN (KDLM) – Ross Hanson, a junior at Detroit Lakes High School, appeared before the city council on Tuesday night, seeking clarity and resolution about parking issues around DLHS. 

Hanson told council members that the high school addition has decreased student parking options by around 30% citing medians placed at the ends of each parking row, more landscaping and wider sidewalks around the building, and the construction of the Lakeshirts Fieldhouse among the reasons for the parking issues.

One of Hanson’s solutions to the issue would be for the council to remove parking restrictions on side streets in the residential areas around the school.

“There are other schools in the area in residential areas…Ulen-Hitterdahl, Hawley…even colleges in residential areas allow parking on the streets,” said Hanson. “Why can’t we?”

Last May, the Detroit Lakes City Council re-established restrictions for parking on side streets around the high school including James, Langford, Granger, North Shore, Robert, and Parkview intersections with Madison, Lyndale, and Roosevelt between 7:00 am and 4:00 pm.

In December, DLHS students started a Change.org petition to bring awareness to the issues they were having.

Hanson adds that reopening the side streets is an inexpensive way to ensure all students have a place to park, will keep them from parking in visitor and teacher parking lots, and would increase parking for spectators during sporting events. 

Hanson met with high school principal Josh Omang on Tuesday before addressing the city council last night. He says his next step is to brainstorm ideas with DL superintendent Mark Jenson.