In the small business plaza neighboring Cypress High School, a growing problem has frustrated both local business owners and school administration. Due to limited parking around the school, many parents and students have resorted to using private parking spaces intended for nearby businesses, creating a wave of issues for those who rely on the spaces daily.
Principal Jennifer Brown of Cypress High has been working tirelessly to address the issue. She launched a “Good Neighbor” policy, stressing the importance of mutual respect between the school and surrounding businesses. “We are part of this community, and as a school, we need to respect it,” she said. “I’ve made videos, attended meetings, and even hosted coffee talks with the parents to ask them not to park in neighboring lots. Our actions impact these businesses, and it’s our responsibility to be considerate.”
Despite these efforts, the parking lot conflict continues to affect local establishments, including Pieology, Bafang Dumpling, Kura Sushi Revolving Sushi Bar, and 85°C Bakery Café. Leslie Rosa, a Pieology employee, described the frequent challenges. “Not just parents, but students especially seniors use our parking lot, and sometimes we run out of spaces
. When customers can’t find a place to park, it hurts our business and sales. We even struggle to find parking as employees, especially on busy days.”
Aside from taking up parking spaces, some students have been seen skateboarding on the plaza’s patios or littering the area while waiting for their rides. Rosa said the disruptions have impacted the store’s cleanliness and employee schedules. “We’re busy with customers and don’t always have time to clean up after them,” she added.
The plaza has put up signs to deter non-customers from parking, but enforcement is a challenge. Since the lot is private property, local police have limited authority to intervene. Businesses could hire private security, but the cost is high, especially for smaller establishments. Principal Brown emphasized many parents seem unwilling to wait in line, instead opting to drop students off in the neighboring lot.
“Our actions are giving the school a poor reputation,” Brown said. “The businesses want to work with us, and we want to keep a positive relationship with them. All we ask is for our community to respect this shared space.”
With ongoing talks between school officials and local business owners, the hope is that cooperation and mutual respect can prevail. In the meantime, Principal Brown continues her appeals, hoping to foster a sense of community and responsibility among Cypress High families.
