Baseball Coach Seeks End to Parking Ban

Call it an appeal to the umpires. At the request of Dave Ochoa, Villa Park High School’s baseball coach, the City Council today will consider changing a one-hour parking ban near the school’s ball field. Ochoa said that the daily 2-to-3 p.m. ban is bad for baseball players and fans.

“This is when our fans, opponents, coaches and umpires arrive to prepare for the game,” Ochoa wrote in a letter to the council. “This short, one-hour restriction tempts many to ignore the signs, and for others it forces them to park in front of the homes on the side streets.”

Ochoa said the parking ban “not only creates a longer walk for our parent and grandparent fans but also [is] an inconvenience for those homeowners on the side streets of Santiago.”

The city bans parking on Santiago Boulevard near the high school from 7 to 9 a.m. and from 2 to 3 p.m. to prevent students from leaving their cars there for the whole school day.

Councilman Bob Bell said the same thing could be accomplished by banning parking on the street before 1:30 p.m.

The council will meet at 7:30 p.m. in chambers, 17855 Santiago Blvd. Information: (714) 998-1500.