Near site of U.S. Open, no money in this green

UNIVERSITY PLACE, Wash. -- Some people in University Place are upset about restrictions being placed on them during the U.S. Open at Chambers Bay.

The City Council voted to ban any paid event parking on the property of homeowners during the weeklong event in June.

“This is going to be a big inconvenience for all of us around here,” said one neighbor who didn’t want to give his name for fear of backlash. He’s frustrated that during a money-making event like the U.S  Open, he’s not allowed to make a few bucks.

“If allowed to, I could make a little bit of money,” said the neighbor, who figures he could fit about 20 cars on his yard.

“It’s ridiculous,” said Donna Malloy, another neighbor who would like to sell parking spaces on her lawn. “It’s our property, and we should be able to do whatever we want with it.”



City leaders believe if they allow paid parking, it could clog up traffic in the area and hold up emergency vehicles.

“Our priority is public safety,” said Javier Igueroa, mayor pro  tem of University Place. “This is not a precedent. If you go to any major event, you’ll see restrictions put into place, where you can park or not, in order to keep a good flow of traffic.”

Some neighbors say the city is being hypocritical because it is allowing residents to rent their homes out during the open, and those renters can do what they want with the yards.

“There’s all these other people renting out their homes and I don’t see the real difference.”

That neighbor plans to stay home during the golf tournament, and he expects to see a lot golf fans driving down his street. But they won’t find a sweet spot on the green in his yard.

Homeowners will be fined $250 if they are caught offering paid parking on their property.

The city is also not allowing food vendors or other merchants to set up shop near the tournament.