The Ripon Bluffs neighborhood is adjacent to the Ripon Recreation Area Stanislaus River Park.

From May through September, residents are often overwhelmed by visitors, who park along the neighborhood streets in order to get to the river, beach area or bike path – available parking at the entrance of the Ripon Recreation Area is limited to a dozen or so vehicles.

“The City of Ripon did not expect hundreds of out of town guests when building the 12-spot parking area,” said Kris Lewis.

Representing the Ripon Bluffs neighborhood, she said during public comment at the Oct. 13 Ripon City Council meeting that some of the visitors have ignored the residential parking permits that apply to those living along Meyenberg Avenue and McBrian Drive – she said parking tickets can be found discarded on the roadway.

“We approached Council five or six years ago on this issue. While Ripon Police Department has been awesome and responds to the many calls on the implemented parking, the permits are not doing the job as well as before,” Lewis said.

She added that some of the visitors have reportedly been rude, using profanity to residents, leaving their trash and even urinating in the gutters.

She mentioned other safety concerns such as fires down the river and sounds of gunshots.

Lewis said one of her neighbors discovered a bullet in her window screen.

“(The neighbor) said it did not break the window but, if it had been a few feet over, it could have injured or even killed the occupant,” she said.

As for the bike path: “Most Ripon residents do not use the bike path because they don’t feel safe and they’re inundated by out-of-town visitors on the weekend,” said Lewis.

She was directed by Mayor Jake Parks to work with Ripon police on this matter. Council member Mike Restuccia showed his concern by requesting to also get involved.

The Ripon Bluffs neighborhood is adjacent to the Ripon Recreation Area Stanislaus River Park.

From May through September, residents are often overwhelmed by visitors, who park along the neighborhood streets in order to get to the river, beach area or bike path – available parking at the entrance of the Ripon Recreation Area is limited to a dozen or so vehicles.

“The City of Ripon did not expect hundreds of out of town guests when building the 12-spot parking area,” said Kris Lewis.

Representing the Ripon Bluffs neighborhood, she said during public comment at the Oct. 13 Ripon City Council meeting that some of the visitors have ignored the residential parking permits that apply to those living along Meyenberg Avenue and McBrian Drive – she said parking tickets can be found discarded on the roadway.

“We approached Council five or six years ago on this issue. While Ripon Police Department has been awesome and responds to the many calls on the implemented parking, the permits are not doing the job as well as before,” Lewis said.

She added that some of the visitors have reportedly been rude, using profanity to residents, leaving their trash and even urinating in the gutters.

She mentioned other safety concerns such as fires down the river and sounds of gunshots.

Lewis said one of her neighbors discovered a bullet in her window screen.

“(The neighbor) said it did not break the window but, if it had been a few feet over, it could have injured or even killed the occupant,” she said.

As for the bike path: “Most Ripon residents do not use the bike path because they don’t feel safe and they’re inundated by out-of-town visitors on the weekend,” said Lewis.

She was directed by Mayor Jake Parks to work with Ripon police on this matter. Council member Mike Restuccia showed his concern by requesting to also get involved.