Running Head: CLASH OVER PARKING SPACE IN A COMMUNITY

Conflict Resolution: Clash over Parking Space in a Community

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CLASH OVER PARKING SPACE IN A COMMUNITY

Conflict Resolution: Clash over Parking Space in a Community

Background
As it is well-known, for ages nations have fought over borders, ethnicities, and other
such identity related issues. Conflicts are thus the cause of significant distress to the society.
While problems in a community might not be as colossal as that on a national level, they can
make life difficult. Frequently, community conflicts seem simple, but they can lead
animosities and resentment that can significantly hamper the peace. A small conflict over
parking place can cause a clash that can bring out subliminal prejudices and stereotyping that
cause a significant loss of peace. It has been pointed out that community conflicts are
generally more complex than interpersonal conflicts, as community disputes begin with
hidden tension (McCollum, 2009, p. 60, 61). Considering this fact, this paper addresses a
problem in the authors community, that is, conflicts over parking place, when the parking
area is limited. The objective of the paper is to provide a solution for this problem.
The Conflict Cause or the Problem
The community is at a distance from the city, but because of its favorable
surroundings, it has grown over the past few years. Most houses have families have at least
four members, that is, parents and two children. This has resulted in an increase in the
number of vehicles, with families often owning more than one four wheeler, and the parking
space provided is inadequate for people to park. Consequently, neighbors are constantly
arguing over their right to park and over the boundaries of parking spaces. The parking areas
have thus been marked with red paint to separate the allocated parking spots. However,
people are often unable to park within the boundaries of the markings. In addition, the
boundary allocations for neighbors are not clear. Since there are three perpendicular lines
between two houses for parking, enabling the parking for three four wheelers, when two

CLASH OVER PARKING SPACE IN A COMMUNITY

families have more than a single four wheelers and when they are neighbors, they argue about
the right to park their vehicles.
The Audience to whom the Resolution will be suggested
The primary audience to whom the solution of this problem will be presented is the
neighborhood. However, first, the solution will be presented to the secondary audience,
which includes, the city council, the district attorney, city parking officials, and the authors
house proprietor. The secondary audience will deliberate on the proposed plan before it
presents it to the primary audience.
The Solution
At present, the parking space problem is becoming intense, and it shows all signs of
becoming a power struggle. Without good conflict resolution, there can be an escalation of
the power struggle, which make the situation destructive (McCollum, 2009). The first plan of
action is to remove the red paints from the street curves as well as that between the houses,
since this is causing more conflicts. People are fighting over the lines and the area they
own even when they do not require the parking space for their vehicle. Moreover, it is a fact
that has been often observed that the red lines are spaced out more widely than required. In
other words, the space between the lines is wide enough to accommodate a trailer van. When
people will not have to be confined by these markings, another car, that is, four cars between
the houses, can easily be placed in the allocated parking space. Clearly, this is an ideal means
of accommodating more vehicles and thus, decreasing the disputes among neighbors.
Another suggestion to increase the parking space available is to use the road curves in
the community and the community parking lot more effectively. Currently, people refuse to
park in the community parking lot or along the road curves, because they are not convinced

CLASH OVER PARKING SPACE IN A COMMUNITY

that their vehicles will be secure in these areas. Since there have been a spate of car thefts in
the neighboring communities, it is only natural that the people of this community remain
anxious about the safety of their vehicles. To begin with, the security arrangements in the
community should be tightened, that is, security cameras must be placed in the parking lots
and care must be taken to ensure they are in working condition. The community members can
take turns to share this responsibility. A guard can also be hired from a security agency for
securing the community in the nighttime. In addition, the lack of shades in the parking lot has
made people reluctant to park their vehicles in the community parking lot as well. To address
this problem, some all-season trees can be planted around the parking lot.
Another practical resolution to the existing problem can be found in the manner in
which car parking is done in busy cities with high land prices and premium parking spaces.
The community can hire a guard, who also serves as an attendant. The attendant is left with
the car keys and is responsible for parking the vehicles securely while taking minimum space.
If the parking lot can be made into a strictly no-cycling zone, angle parking can be used to
accommodate more vehicles as well. In angle parking, as the term suggests, the vehicles are
parked in an angled manner and the marks on the road for parking are in an angle, as to the
opposed to perpendicular or parallel lines of perpendicular or parallel parking. Since the
vehicles are arranged at an angle to the road, there is more space available for parking.
However, it is extremely important here that the parking lot does not have any two wheelers,
because as the vehicles are reversing from their parking spaces, the driver cannot see an
approaching two-wheeler, as he or she is in a blind spot while reversing and turning (Local
transport notes, 2013). Perpendicular parking could also save a good amount of space. Thus,
the parallel parking style that is being used in the community must be completely eliminated.
Another good idea to ensure that conflicts related with the parking space will be
brought to an end is having parking spaces that are equipped with wheel stop or a parking

CLASH OVER PARKING SPACE IN A COMMUNITY

block. These are the blocks which is used to prevent cars from pulling too far into the space
and are often seen in city parking lotsthe black and yellow barriers that are made of rubber
and plastic and sometimes, cement. This will ensure that a vehicle does not barricade a more
space that it should or spill over into the curb. The wheel stop is also useful for
safeguarding the vehicle from coming into contact with a wall in front of it. However, there
should be only one wheel stop for the front tires, since two wheel stops can cause individual
accidents, when people absently trip over them (Cullen, 2012).
Conclusion
It can be concluded from the facts presented in this paper that the existing conflict in
the community regarding parking space can be easily resolved. From the various solutions
presented, the most ideal, given the situation is to have a perpendicular parking arrangement.
The existing red parking lines must be erased and redone to consider the average size of
vehicles in the community. Wheel stops should be utilized and a parking guard/attendant can
be hired to make maximal use of the curb parking space as well as the community parking
lot. Security cameras that are in optimal condition all the time must be installed in the parking
lot and the roads. It is also suggested that in time, to address the bitterness that has been bred
out of the parking space disputes, the community should have some activities that will require
neighbors to collaborate to have fun. For instance, a potluck that involves various cuisines
two neighbors will collaborate and serve in the potluck dinner. This will be an essential step
to create harmony (Jackson, 1999). Solving the existing parking related conflict will ensure
that any other problems that are simmering beneath the surface are not vented within the
community with aggression. Conflict resolution in a small community can be challenging,
because the friction between the people can be intense, especially when conflicts and
resentments have piled over time. However, timely addressing of the conflicts can ensure a
peaceful community life.

CLASH OVER PARKING SPACE IN A COMMUNITY

References
Cullen, C. (November 2012). The Truth, the Whole Truth And Nothing But the Truth .
Parking Today. Accessed on September 20, 2015 from
http://www.parkingtoday.com/articledetails.php?id=1267.
Jackson, H. (1999). Creating harmony: Conflict resolution in community. Holte, Denmark:
Gaia Trust.
McCollum, S. (2009). Managing conflict resolution. New York: Chelsea House.
Local transport notes. (September 13, 2013). Traffic management guidance for local
authorities. Accessed on September 20, 2015 from
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/local-transport-notes.

CLASH OVER PARKING SPACE IN A COMMUNITY