Citizen: BP Road needs no parking signs
With parking allowed on both sides of County Road 46 near Blooming Prairie High School, it’s often difficult for large vehicles like this semi tractor trailer to get through the area without driving down the center of the road. At least one resident in the area is concerned about safety on this stretch of roadway. Submitted photo
-Tom Peterson, BP Area Resident
A Blooming Prairie man is on a mission to prevent a tragedy before it happens.
Tom Peterson, who lives just west of Blooming Prairie, wants County Road 46 posted with “No Parking” signs. However, he feels his frustration is not being heard by those who can make a difference.
CR 46 runs north and south along the western edge of the city near Blooming Prairie High School and connects to Highway 30. When the road was created presumably more than 100 years ago, land use was all agricultural and access to the public was limited. Over time, the city expanded to the west, and now land use surrounding the road is mostly recreational.
The public now flocks to mini soccer fields, tractor pull contests, volleyball courts, tennis courts, ball diamonds and football field. Peterson said during those events, which are not only during the school year but from early May to late August for up to five days a week, public safety is at a great risk.
“The problem for public safety is that many vehicles are parked on both sides of the road for several blocks,” said Peterson. “The substantial influx of persons using the land for recreation has created a dangerous exposure to injury, not only to the drivers traveling from point A to point B, but for participants using the land.”
With vehicles parked on both sides of the road that offers little to no shoulder space, passage of all motor vehicles is severely restricted, Peterson said. He pointed out that tractors with folded implements and emergency vehicles would have a difficult time getting through the area.
“Participants dart out into the restricted roadway to retrieve baseballs, softballs, frisbees and footballs errantly landing on the road,” he said. “To ensure public safety, County 46 needs to be posted for no parking.”
Motorists parking in the area, Peterson said, have an alternative by utilizing large parking lots on the east side of the high school. However, nobody seems to want to walk the distance to the fields.
Peterson has reached out to various officials with Steele County about making the change. He claims at least one commissioner has told him he would not support posting the area with no parking, leading Peterson to believe the commissioner doesn’t support public safety in Blooming Prairie.
Assistant County Engineer Paul Sponholz acknowledged there is a problem in the area. “We do know that many people park with their cars encroaching into the travel lanes with part of their vehicle park left of the white edge line, which is a violation of state statues,” Sponholz said. “The CSAH 46 shoulder is not built for parking.”
Sponholz said the county is looking into Peterson’s concerns. “We are still gathering information from stakeholders, including the City of Blooming Prairie and the school district,” he said, adding there is no timeframe for a decision, which could be a couple of months yet.
No specific public outreach has been planned by the county over this particular parking dilemma, according to Sponholz. “But the public can always make comments during the public comment period at Board meetings,” he said.
Peterson remains vigilant in his efforts to not allow parking in the area.
“The consensus of those we have talked to in Steele County law enforcement, Blooming Prairie law enforcement and several citizens from the Blooming Prairie community is that it is not a matter of if someone is fatally injured on this stretch of highway, but when,” Peterson said.