Posted: July 9, 2015 3:24 pm

 

Residents along the section of New Holland Pike that’s closed for the U.S. Women’s Open are dealing with road closures and busloads of spectators traveling through their otherwise quiet neighborhoods.

As the tournament starts Thursday, traffic is expected to be slow and backed up along detour routes. But some residents in these neighborhoods — Country Club Estates and Grandview Heights — are  focusing on the brighter side.

Given the close proximity to  Lancaster Country Club golf course where the tournament is taking place, parking in both neighborhoods is a premium commodity and some are  looking to capitalize on that.

Daily parking spots are being offered for anywhere from $20 to $40.

Dan Connors is one of two residents on Pinehurst Avenue availing their driveway to spectators.

“I’ve been to many U.S. Opens,” he said, and expects more people to come later in the week as the tournament gets well underway. He has already received requests for parking at his house on Friday and Sunday.

Connors’ driveway can accommodate up to four cars, and he assumes more people will show interest as they begin to arrive and see his sign.

Ted Miller, the second resident on Pinehurst Avenue to advertise for parking, has already made a few extra dollars.

Miller, one of many residents frustrated by the inconvenience the Open has caused, said he will make the most of it.

His house is directly across the street from the country club and just a short walk to the entrance of the course.

“I figured I have to put up with the inconvenience, so I might as well make some money off of it,’’ Miller said.

Grandview Heights

Country Club Estates is not the only development being affected by the Open.

Grandview Heights sits along New Holland Pike to the west of the country club and, because of detours, has seen an influx in truck traffic, said Vinnie Depaul, a Pleasure Road resident.

Depaul is also selling his driveway for daily parking.

Although Grandview Heights is not right across the street, “it’s less than a 5-minute walk,” he said.

Depaul is able to accommodate seven cars on his property,  and when he’s not home there will be arrows directing spectators out of his driveway, he said.

“Thursday is gonna be the day,” Depaul said, that he is expecting people to really take notice and use his parking space.

Housing developments have been affected by the Open, but the larger inconvenience seems to be among residents living directly across from the country club on New Holland Pike.

To sell or not

The closure of New Holland Pike between Route 30 and Eden Road is causing residents of New Holland Pike to get creative.

Residents who live along the closed portion of the pike were issued parking passes — a purple hang tag — to enter the closed portion of the road and get home. The tags, issued by the USGA, have also become a golden ticket for visitors looking to be close to the course.

“People have already approached me to park here,” New Holland Pike resident O. Juan Ramos said.

Ramos said he has not advertised parking and has no intention of allowing people to park in his driveway or use his resident parking passes for the event.

Resident parking passes were handed out two per household, he said, and if people needed more, for family visiting or workers coming to the house, they had to ask.

“Each residence was allowed up to six additional passes,” said Kelly Steadman, another New Holland Pike resident affected by the tournament.

“Lots of residents were hoping to be able to use their property for parking and were disappointed when they heard they couldn’t,” Steadman said.

Early in the week, Manheim Township police said they observed a boy trying to sell resident hang tags belonging to his parents along New Holland Pike. The tags were confiscated  and later returned to the parent, police said.

A USGA spokeswoman said the tags are nontransferable and cannot be resold.