HERRIMAN, Utah -- A crowd packed Herriman City Hall Tuesday night, demanding the city address overcrowding in their neighborhood.
They all live around the Blackridge Reservoir, a popular summer spot they believe has become too popular.
"There's got to be some sort of a safety limit. We don't go to the reservoir anymore," said one resident.
Herriman City officials called the meeting to address residents' concerns about overcrowding at the reservoir, and the parking issues that have arisen as a result.
Homeowners said the reservoir's current lot is too small, which leads to drivers parking on either side of the neighborhood streets.
"We've got two children that have got a chronic medical condition, and sometimes we have to call the ambulance," explained one neighborhood resident. "And we're just hoping it's not going to happen in that time because those roads are not meant for two cars parked on both sides."
Since June 2015, police have issued 77 citations at the reservoir, 55 of which were for parking violations.
"The city doesn't have the right to say people that are not residents can't go to the park," said Gordon Haight, Herriman's assistant city manager.
According to Haight, possible solutions also come with potential problems.
For example, a proposal to create permitted parking for the neighborhood could push the parking problem elsewhere in the city. If the city chose to charge for parking, Haight said it would also cost the city money to facilitate, approximately $40,000 annually.
"As much as this is a nightmare for your neighborhood, we have a skate park, we have Butterfield Park," Haight said. "I'm telling you we have these same meetings with each neighborhood expressing the exact same concerns you have."
In August, the city plans to host a second neighborhood meeting, at which point they hope to agree to some immediate solutions to implement.
