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Dundalk Today
By the People, for the People
Dundalk Residents Cling to Parking Spots After Snowstorm
Neighbors use furniture, cones, and other items to reserve spaces they shoveled out.
Published on Feb. 23, 2026
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Dundalk residents have been using a variety of household items like chairs, tables, laundry baskets, and caution tape to save the parking spots they shoveled out after a recent snowstorm. While the snow has mostly melted, many are reluctant to give up the spots they worked hard to clear.
Why it matters
The practice of "parking spot saving" highlights the challenges many urban and suburban neighborhoods face in finding adequate parking, especially after major winter weather events. It also speaks to the sense of community and personal investment residents feel in their local streets and public spaces.
The details
Dundalk residents have been employing a range of creative tactics to mark and hold onto the parking spots they cleared after the January snowstorm. Items used include chairs, tables, laundry baskets, storage bins, caution tape, and traffic cones. While some find the practice "unbelievable" and "ugly", others feel they have a right to protect the spots they worked hard to shovel out.
- A major snowstorm hit the Dundalk area in January 2026.
- Residents began using household items to save their parking spots after shoveling them out.
The players
Deborah Hanscom
A Dundalk resident who has been surprised by the extent of parking spot saving in the neighborhood.
Will
A Dundalk resident who has seen "a whole living room set outside" being used to reserve parking spots.
Niko Cagle
A Dundalk resident who spent 4 hours shoveling out a parking spot and doesn't want anyone to take it.
Mike
A Dundalk resident who finds the practice of parking spot saving to be "ugly" and hopes it ends soon.
Baltimore County Code Enforcement
The county's code enforcement division has not cited any residents for issues related to parking spot saving.
What they’re saying
“What we've seen here is unbelievable. I have never seen anything like that in my life.”
— Deborah Hanscom, Dundalk Resident (wbal.com)
“I know I've seen somewhere there's like a whole living room set outside. I'm not going to lie, that's funny.”
— Will, Dundalk Resident (wbal.com)
“I'm not going to let anyone take my spot when I worked hard to shovel all that out.”
— Will, Dundalk Resident (wbal.com)
“In my opinion, I was out here for four hours digging the spots out, and if someone takes my spot, I would be kind of disappointed.”
— Niko Cagle, Dundalk Resident (wbal.com)
“It's ugly. It's already pretty ugly, but I just hope it goes.”
— Mike, Dundalk Resident (wbal.com)
What’s next
As the snow continues to melt, it remains to be seen whether Dundalk residents will voluntarily remove the furniture and other items used to save their parking spots or if the local authorities will need to intervene.
The takeaway
The parking spot saving tactics employed by Dundalk residents highlight the strong sense of community and personal investment people can feel in their local public spaces, even if the methods used are unconventional or unsightly. As cities and suburbs grapple with limited parking, these types of neighborhood-level disputes over scarce resources are likely to continue.
