Traffic tie-ups near Poland park rile residents

By Denise Dick

POLAND — John Kulifay, Carolyne Marinelli and many of their neighbors appreciate the township park, but they don’t like the traffic.

The park between Miller and Cowden roads opened last year and became home base for the Poland Youth Soccer Association playing its games there.

With the opening came the cars of people traveling to and from the park. The park is accessible from Miller and from Cowden.

“I can’t even get out of my driveway to go to work,” said Marinelli, who lives on Miller.

She and Kulifay, who lives on Struthers Road, believe the park should be accessed from U.S. Route 224.

With plans for expanded amenities at the park, Marinelli worries the traffic is going to become a year-round problem.

She and Kulifay have placed nearly 100 signs along Struthers, Miller and Cowden roads, announcing the concerns.

“We love our park but hate the traffic,” the signs read. “The park should be accessed from 224. Poland Township can do better!”

They’ve also collected about 160 signatures on petitions, although those petitions haven’t yet been presented to township officials.

Moore Road formerly extended to Route 224. The residents contend that if it were reopened, it would alleviate the problems on their streets.

Police park on the streets to try to discourage motorists from speeding, but when the cruiser leaves, the speeding resumes, Kulifay said.

“We don’t want the park closed,” he said. “Every kid should have the opportunity to go out to the park.”

Marinelli agreed.

“I love that the kids can play out there and not sit in front of a video game,” she said.

James Scharville, township administrator, said that after the park first opened, some residents attended a trustees meeting, voicing their concerns. The township contacted Mahoning County, which placed 25 mph speed limit signs on Miller.

Since then, though, no one has brought their concerns to the township, Scharville said.

Both Marinelli and Kulifay say that’s because when they did address trustees regarding their concerns, they didn’t feel they were being heard.

Scharville said that access to the park via Route 224 would be a lengthy undertaking.

“It’s an abandoned road,” he said.

In the early-to-mid-1990s, Mahoning County commissioners, against the township’s wishes, vacated a portion of Moore Road that had extended to Route 224, the administrator said.

The commissioners’ decision was part of a request by the Essroc Co. to expand its mining operation.

Scharville said that portion of Moore Road was dug up entirely after it was vacated. He believes it would be costly to install and pave it again.

It’s not that trustees aren’t concerned about residents’ worries, Scharville said.

“The trustees are aware of it and I know they want to do something about it, but it would have to be done in the future” because the township doesn’t have the money now, he said.

Kulifay said he understands it’s expensive but wonders why it can’t be done a little at a time.

“It could be a long-term goal,” he said. “We’re not saying the road has to be put in all at once. We’re asking for a plan.”

denise_dick@vindy.com