WSSC Lot to be Gated Off

Following a contentious debate about the use of the former Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission parking lot bordering Magruder Park, city officials announced yesterday that the owners of the parking lot would be taking steps to lock down the property. 

"The current property owner intends to gate the two entrances to the property," reads an announcement posted to the Hyattsville city website yesterday afternoon. "It is expected that the gates will be installed by the end of September, if not sooner. The purpose of the gates is to restrict vehicular access except when authorized."

According to the announcement, an update on issue will be provided at an upcoming city council meeting. The next scheduled Hyattsville city council meeting is slated for Monday, Oct. 1.

Following discussion during this past Monday's city council meeting, council members directed staff to contact Douglas Development, the company which owns the lot, to try to address the issue of student drivers using the lot as a practice track. 

The use of the lot by student drivers had become a concern for some members of the Hyattsville city council, especially Councilor Tim Hunt (Ward 3), after at least two incidents where cars reportedly crashed into or crashed through a fence separating the parking lot from a playground at Magruder Park.