West Cape May Looks at Myrtle Avenue Closings, Parking Enforcement in Bike Lanes

WEST CAPE MAY — Due to overwhelming traffic and parking issues at Wilbraham Park, Borough Commission is suggesting Myrtle Avenue, adjacent to the park, no longer be closed to traffic during events.
Of late, the street has been closed to accommodate larger events.
At an Oct. 28 meeting, Mayor Pamela Kaithern said the borough’s Farm Market Committee recommended bringing events back into control by not allowing Myrtle Avenue to be closed.
She said the option could be offered to those seeking more space to move their event from
Wilbraham Park to Backyard Park, behind Borough Hall.
Kaithern said Backyard Park has the use of the Borough Hall parking lot, which works well for the Farmer’s Market each Tuesday during the summer.
Commissioner Peter Burke said Backyard Park offers space for larger events minus the parking issues prevalent at Wilbraham Park.
Kaithern said she would like to see the borough take the first step and move the Lima Bean Festival to Backyard Park. She said Backyard Park is handicapped accessible.
Wilbraham Park was not built for large events and the “grounds take a beating and we fight the rest of the year to bring the grounds back to life,” said Kaithern.
“The park is just mobbed during these events,” she continued. “You can’t get through, you don’t have a traffic flow of people.”
The Strawberry Festival is run by the West Cape May Business Association, which chooses where their event is held. Kaithern said the Backyard Park has a lower rental fee than Wilbraham Park.
Commissioners Ramsey Geyer and Peter Burke agreed Myrtle Avenue should remain open for traffic and parking during Wilbraham Park events.
Kaithern said a decision to protect Wilbraham Park has been deferred year after year.
She suggested a letter be sent to those who hold events in Wilbraham Park requesting written conformation of the date, informing them Myrtle Avenue would remain open to traffic and offering the option of moving the event to Backyard Park.
A resolution setting dates for events in Wilbraham Park was tabled until Borough Commission’s Nov. 11 meeting. The Nov. 4 Borough Commission has been rescheduled to Nov. 11 at 7 p.m.
Geyer noted how much negative publicity the borough received in the media when police ticketed a number of cars parking in the bike lanes on Park Boulevard during the Lima Bean Festival.
Kaithern said a driver, who received a ticket during the Lima Bean Festival, suggested additional no parking signs be placed along the bike paths when events are taking place in Wilbraham Park. She said signs similar to those placed along Central Avenue when the Farmer’s Market is open be utilized.