Letter Sent to RBR Board of Education Re: Student Parking and Safety Concerns Affecting Fair Haven Residents

From: Fair Haven Borough Governing Body
Date:  May 27, 2026
Re:     Student Parking and Safety Concerns Affecting Fair Haven Residents

The Fair Haven Borough Governing Body (“Governing Body”) is writing to express its growing concern regarding student parking patterns associated with Red Bank Regional High School (“RBR”) and the resulting safety and neighborhood impacts within Fair Haven Borough (“Borough”).

Over the course of the school year, a significant number of students park on Borough streets, particularly along Cambridge Avenue and surrounding residential areas. Residents have increasingly expressed frustration regarding congestion, limited on-street parking availability, and the overall disruption caused by the concentration of student vehicles in these neighborhoods.

More importantly, the Governing Body believes the current situation presents a meaningful student safety concern. Students parking on Cambridge Avenue must cross a heavily traveled roadway in order to reach the school campus. The Borough is deeply concerned that this arrangement unnecessarily exposes students to avoidable pedestrian and traffic hazards during morning arrival and afternoon dismissal periods. 

We understand that the current student parking system at RBR is administered through a permit-based allocation process rather than a daily first-come, first-served system. As we understand it, this policy regularly results in unused parking spaces on campus due to student absences and other factors, while students without permits continue to seek parking on our Borough streets.

While we respect that parking administration is ultimately a matter for the school district, the Fair Haven Governing Body strongly urges the Board of Education and district administration to re-evaluate the current policy with student safety as the primary consideration. We believe changes should be made to maximize utilization of available on-campus parking capacity and reduce the need for students to park off campus and cross busy roadways.

This matter affects not only neighborhood quality of life, but also the safety and well-being of students attending Red Bank Regional High School. We respectfully request that the Board of Education give this issue prompt attention and work collaboratively toward a practical solution that prioritizes student safety while reducing impacts on surrounding residential streets.

We appreciate your consideration and look forward to continued dialogue on this matter.

_________________________________                  _______________________________ 
Mayor Joshua Halpern                                                  Councilman Brian Olson

_________________________________                 ________________________________ 
Councilwoman Elizabeth Koch                                     Councilwoman Tracy Cole 

__________________________________                _________________________________ 
Councilwoman Michal DiMiceli                                     Councilwoman Christina Malecki
                                                               

__________________________________                                 
Councilman Kevin Griffin