Bell Gardens pumps the brakes near Ford Park
BELL GARDENS, CA — Drivers will soon have to ease off the gas near John Anson Ford Park.
The Bell Gardens City Council voted 5-0 Monday night to lower the speed limit from 30 mph to 25 mph on Park Lane and Scout Avenue, between Garfield Avenue and Clara Street.
City officials say more people are now driving and walking in the area since the opening of the Dreamers Aquatics Center, bringing more pedestrians across Park Lane and Scout Avenue.
“The opening of the Aquatics Center has changed traffic patterns and pedestrian activity near Ford Park,” the staff report states, adding that “there are concerns regarding perceived speeding activity on this street segment.”
A traffic study conducted in July found that about 2,500 to 3,100 vehicles travel through different parts of the area each day. The study also found that 85% of drivers were going 26 to 31 mph or slower, depending on the stretch of road.
The city also reviewed three years of collision data and found three crashes on Park Lane and Scout Avenue between April 2023 and March 2026. Two happened in 2023 and one in 2025.
The city's Traffic and Safety Commission recommended the lower limit on Sept. 1. With the council's approval, city crews will replace speed limit signs and street markings along the stretch. The work is expected to cost about $1,000, paid for with Gas Tax funds.
The city also plans to keep an eye on traffic in the area to see if more safety measures are needed.
