Police were notified. We were told there is no one to issue tickets on Sundays.

Do police not work on Sundays? They are just as able to issue parking tickets as is the PPA. Call them again and tell them to do their jobs and enforce the law.

It's people attending church. They otherwise have no other place to park. But it does create a dangerous traffic situation.

We are aware that these people are attending church. They found plenty of places to park before they started parking in the street. Their cars park in the street even when there are legal, legitimate parking spaces available directly across the street. The church has had an arrangement with at least one parking lot a few blocks away -- the signs are still posted -- but the drivers chose to park illegally once they realized they would not be ticketed for it. No church should be allowed to endanger residents of their neighborhood.

And, I appreciate that Philly 311 has acknowledged this issue. I call the police almost every week and nothing ever happens.

Dear Philly311 - Numerous people have tried for weeks to contact the police and I have never seen a ticket issued to the people illegally parking on Grays Ferry Ave. I have heard the the church has a "deal" which allows its members to park on the street. This needs to be raised up the ranks and stopped. It is extremely dangerous for motor vehicles as the road is extremely narrow. 2 way traffic on Sundays is a serious nightmare. Additionally at the corner of Bainbridge and Grays, members park on the triangular median. The cars have completely ripped apart the concrete and the sidewalk is ruined. Who will pay to repair this. I imagine the tax payers of Philadelphia. Why should a church or any private institution be allowed to create a "deal" which provides its members the freedom to destroy public property?

I reported this issue 9 months ago and nothing has been done. I view this as a failure of the Philly311 system.

If there are alternatives such as lots nearby, parking and blocking a lane along Grays Ferry should not be tolerated. Someone should speak to the reverend. Many churches and synogogues block traffic on wkends but usually not the only lane going in a particular direction, forcing drivers to encroach into uncoming traffic. It is dangerous. Last Sunday I was making a right onto Grays Ferry from Catherine and almost had a head on collision w/ taxi traveling south in the northbound lane b/c the southbound lane was full of parked cars.

Something will be done once there's an accident and someone dies. Maybe.

Apparently nearly all of you are not aware of the special agreements churches in the city have regarding parking in ordinarily what would be travel lanes. This church is doing nothing wrong. All that is needed is more caution from drivers and pedestrians.

I'd rather have to deal with this parking issue a thousand more times than see that beautiful church sit empty because it's congregants don't have a practical way to park in a densely residential area... this coming from a cyclist who has more to deal with than drivers who navigate this.

Having cars park in bike lanes along Spruce and Pine is almost bearable; there is still a travel lane for cars, and as a cyclist, I usually have enough room to navigate.

On Gray's Ferry, however, these parked cars are making a major thoroughfare into a one-lane, two-way street. Police need to be convinced somehow that overlooking churchgoers is NOT OKAY when it creates a dangerous situation like this.

Police have NEVER come out to ticket when called. This is still an active issue.

The bus I was riding in yesterday almost had a head on collision b/c the road was blocked by these cars. I sympathize with the church and they should be accomodated to some extent. (Other writers have mentioned lots nearby) But the current situation is very dangerous. Also, the cars block the southbound lane ALL day. It's not just for an hour long church service. It's ALL DAY.

It should also be noted that there are frequently cars parked in the sidewalk in front of the church. Not just the "spots" directly in front of the church but blocking the sidewalk on Grays Ferry.

Furthermore, this parking situation occurs not just on Sunday mornings/afternoons, but any time there is a church activity (including, most recently, on New Year's Eve, which was a Friday night).

Also, not all the cars that park here belong to church-goers; some drivers must assume that it's a parking free-for-all whenever there are church cars parked there.

A police car drove past this Sunday and did not ticket ANY cars.

This wasn't an issue until Naval Square put up those tree gates and planters in between the trees. I think we'll have to deal with it now. It's not that bad of a problem. If vehicles take their time, they'll be ok. I've driven through with opposite traffic and came out unscathed.

JR - Are you implying that if Naval Square didn't put the planters on the sidewalk then cars could park there? If so do you realize the damage that vehicles do to the curbs? If you are not aware, look at the triangle at the intersection of Bainbridge and Grays... its destroyed. Guess the people that park on the sidewalk there have a right since "they've always done it"... forget about what it will cost the city to repair.

Also, if people parked on the curb, where would the walkers go? Or should people not have the right to walk on the sidewalks safely on Sunday during church because it has always been allowed?

Glad you take it slow but not all drivers do and there is going to be an accident one day. It is unsafe and the city needs to do something about it.

This past Sunday was unbelievable. With the street already narrowed by snow all the churchgoers cars made it almost unpassable. I'm amazed how inconsiderate this is. They create a dangerous situation and it's OK.

This also happens on Saturday. There are also no PPA tickets on the windshields of any of these cars. I got a ticket when I dropped off my daughter at the church on 19th and Walnut for a class, it isn't like the PPA won't ticket church-goers.

Getting through this area on a bike on Sunday is now becoming a challenge

Please see the following link which includes appropriate contact information for expressing safety concerns about this practice : http://www.philadelphiaspeaks.com/forum/southwest-center-city/10320-sunday-illegal-parking-grays-ferry-8.html#post376622

A meeting is being held at the church at 7pm tonight to discuss a potential alternative arrangement.

More info: http://www.philadelphiaspeaks.com/forum/southwest-center-city/23226-greater-st-matthews-baptist-church-close-2-blocks-bainbridge-every-sunday.html