Residents Demand Action from City of Elk Grove on High School Parking Problems Amid Safety Concerns

Residents living near Pleasant Grove High School voiced a litany of grievances during a recent Elk Grove City Council meeting, detailing a deteriorating neighborhood environment they attribute to a severe lack of on-campus student parking.

In a series of public comments during the Jan. 14, 2026, meeting, homeowners and parents urged the Elk Grove Unified School District and city officials to address safety hazards, property damage, and illicit behavior occurring on residential streets.

Linda Moncrief, a long-time homeowner across from the school, described the parking situation as "absolutely ridiculous" and "unsafe." Moncrief alleged that students frequently leave behind disturbing amounts of litter, including vape pens, used condoms, and drug paraphernalia..

"Coming home to opening my windows to students parking on the wrong side of the street in the wrong direction... I'd had it at that point," Monreef said, noting that the congestion has blocked elderly neighbors from using wheelchair ramps and prevented mail carriers from reaching mailboxes.

Ginger Kush of Wilton, a parent of two students at Pleasant Grove, acknowledged the neighbors' frustration but pointed to a lack of infrastructure. Kush estimated that the school serves roughly 2,500 students but offers only 400 to 500 parking spots.

According to Kush, a lottery system for on-campus permits does not prioritize students traveling from distant areas like Wilton or Rancho Murieta. This forces many commuting students to park in neighborhoods and walk 10 minutes to campus. Kush urged the city to work with the district to build a new parking lot or garage rather than simply pushing the problem to adjacent streets through permit zones.

Onkar Judge, representing a neighborhood petition that garnered wide support, warned that the situation has evolved beyond a parking nuisance into a public safety crisis. Judge reported significant property damage, including two car accidents on their street and a hit-and-run incident captured on camera.

Mr. Judge also noted increasing hostility between residents and drivers, citing a claim that an individual allegedly attempted to poison a neighbor’s dog following a parking confrontation.

"We as a neighborhood want a short-term solution and it needs to be enacted sooner than later," Judge said, citing the risk of speeding traffic to local children walking to school."

The Elk Grove City Council ultimately approved the consent calendar, which included a proposal for a preferential parking zone to address some of the neighborhood's immediate concerns.

Watch and listen to Councilmember Kevin Spease's harsh comments about the Elk Grove Unified School District.