FAIR HAVEN BANS PARKING FOR RED BANK REGIONAL GRADUATION

A temporary no parking sign in Fair Haven near Red Bank Regional High School, in the background, which sits in Little Silver. (Photo by Brian Donohue. Click to enlarge.)

By BRIAN DONOHUE

For years on graduation day, families of Red Bank Regional High School graduates who can’t find a spot in the school lot typically park on the wide leafy side streets just across the Little Silver border in Fair Haven and make the short walk to the school to attend the ceremony.

Not this year.

The Borough of Fair Haven instituted a one-day on-street parking ban on streets near the school, including Rutgers Drive, Cambridge Avenue, Oxford Avenue, Harvard Road, and Princeton Avenue, from 7 am to 8 pm, just in time for the pomp and circumstance Thursday.

In a public statement Wednesday night, Borough officials say they issued the one-day parking ban over concerns about traffic and pedestrian safety.

But Red Bank Regional High School Superintendent Louis Moore called that statement a “misrepresentation.”

The parking ban, Moore believes, was “simply an act of retribution” by town officials frustrated that the school would not prevent students from parking on Borough Streets to attend class over the past several months.

“It was simply an act of retribution, because we weren’t taking, in their minds, we weren’t taking enough action to have the kids not park on the street,” Moore said. “By the way, you’re allowed to park on the street.”

Moore said the Borough of Fair Haven could address the issue by passing an ordinance banning parking on the streets. But the school simply does not have jurisdiction over traffic and parking laws.

“I don’t have the authority,” Moore added. “I can’t tell an American citizen that they can’t do something when they’re allowed to do it.”

Streets subject to the graduation day parking ban in Fair Haven had almost no one parked on the street Wednesday evening.

In an email response to redbankgreen, Fair Haven Borough Administrator Christopher York said banning parking on graduation day “would provide a safer environment for families attending the commencement.”

He wrote:

On May 7, 2026, Mayor Halpern was in communication with Dr. Lou Moore, the RBR Superintendent, about the potential impact of large numbers of cars parking on our residential streets adjacent to the high school. Traffic and pedestrian safety was the primary concern in this matter. As a result, it was communicated that parking would be restricted on the Fair Haven streets typically impacted. RBR BOE did not respond, and arranged an alternate parking solution, which would provide a safer environment for families attending the commencement.

In light of this, Red Bank Regional HS arranged for overflow parking at the Rumson Jewish Center and at the Church of the Nativity, both in Hance Road. They are providing a shuttle service to safely transport attendees to the event.

redbankgreen followed up with a question to York about what, if any, incidents had sparked safety concerns this year compared to previous years. We did not receive an immediate response.

The streets in question have long had no restrictions on on-street parking, with no shortage of available spaces.

As early as March, Fair Haven officials approached the Board of Education with concerns over residents’ complaints about students parking on the streets on school days.

In a series of back-and-forth emails and meetings, Fair Haven officials pressed school officials to issue more permits for students to park in lots on school property. Board of Education officials assert they had a shortage of spaces, with about 20 students on a waiting list for a spot in the school lot.

In May, the Fair Haven Police issued a weekday parking ban on Cambridge Avenue from 6:30 to 8 am and 1:30 to 3:30, a move believed to keep students from parking there.

The graduation day parking ban sparked an flurry of posts and responses on social media, with many questioning why the town couldn’t allow parking for an event running a few hours in a neighborhood where homes typically have wide driveways and ample off-street parking.

In a post on the Fair Haven NJ Facebook group, Princeton Avenue resident Mary Nicholas criticized the ban, saying, “For the first time in my 50+ years living on Princeton Road in Fair Haven, I am ashamed to be a resident of this beautiful town. Tomorrow night is the graduation ceremony at RBRHS, a time of great pride and joy for students and their families.”

She continued: “This annual event is the highlight of RBR’s school year, and Fair Haven has chosen to say ‘not on my streets’ rather than Congratulations! What happened to being a good neighbor?”

Nicholas added she had contacted friends in Red Bank and offered to let them park in her driveway.

redbankgreen editor Brian Donohue may be reached via email at [email protected] or by calling or texting 848-331-8331.

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