CHICAGO (WLS) — Monday marks one week until the start of the Democratic Party Convention in Chicago.

Parking restrictions went into effect Monday morning. Eight-foot-high barrier fences will surround the United Center and McCormick Place for a few blocks in each direction.

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At around 8 a.m. forklifts arrived and delivered fencing material.

“Over the last couple of weeks, you’ve noticed little changes as I walk and run around the neighborhood. But today it’s like it’s going to happen next week, so the momentum is much bigger,” said Josh Goralski, who lives nearby.

Residents can expect road closures and parking restrictions throughout the week. Residents in the area are preparing for the changes.

“There’s always a lot of traffic here because of the concerts and everything, so there will be even more traffic this time,” said Nikita Clark, who lives nearby.

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Residents are curious to see how the closures will impact them and what adjustments will be necessary over the next two weeks as the city hosts the DNC on their doorstep.

“And that’s why I thought about what impact this has on the neighborhood,” Goralski said. “We weren’t really told whether we can go through the security perimeter or not? I’m not in the security bubble, but I’m right on the edge, so we weren’t told, just because we’re not in it, can we still go through?”

From Monday, the following parking restrictions will apply around the UC:

• Washington between Damen and Wood
• Wolcott between Washington and Warren
• And Paulina between Monroe and Adams

Donald Woodruff, a resident of the Near West Side, is one of many upset about the parking restrictions.

“That’s too much. He’s in a wheelchair in that house there. They can’t park anywhere else, man. They have to go to their parking spots, you know?” Woodruff said.

Ald. Walter Burnett, who represents the 27th District, says the U.S. Secret Service never communicated these restrictions.

“Today we put up signs on the poles outside the perimeter saying no parking from Lake Street to Jackson, from Ashland to Oakley, right? There are hundreds of homes in that area and we didn’t know that,” Burnett said. “I came out and saw the sign in front of my house. They’re making me look disingenuous to my constituents because we have town hall meetings. We had two town hall meetings, one on Zoom, one public, and we told them they weren’t going to be in the perimeter.”

People are encouraged to allow extra time to travel during the convention next week, as Near West Siders will be able to experience history up close.

“Are they going to stop me and let me through?” Clark asked. “Can I go into my own apartment? I just want to be able to go in and out of my house safely with my children, that’s the most important thing to me.”

Authorities will begin enforcing safety restrictions and street closures around McCormick Place on Friday evening and around the United Center on Saturday evening.

Speaking at the City Club on Monday, CPD Supervisor Larry Snelling encouraged people to go about their day as usual during the DNC.

“Will there be disruption and traffic problems now? Yes, definitely. Delegates will be walking around you and travelling in buses. Hotels will be full, so there will be a lot more traffic,” said Snelling.

However, Snelling also promised that there will be significantly more police officers near the venues, adding that Chicago is prepared for whatever happens.

“We are prepared to deal with any situation that may arise,” Snelling said.

There will be two security zones around the United Center, with the inner zone accessible only to pedestrians with badges. A similar security plan is in place for McCormick Place.

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Snelling said the 2012 NATO summit provided many lessons that Chicago police could use for the DNC.

“Everything that worked there, we took advantage of. We improved it, we sharpened the saw and made it better. But we also looked at things that we know we could have done better and we took corrective action accordingly, and that’s how we work for the DNC now,” Snelling said.

Meanwhile, the organizers of the protests are also preparing for the DNC.

The Coalition To March On The DNC, made up of 200 groups from across the country, expects 40,000 protesters to attend each of the two rallies in Union Park.

“And that means housing people. That means thinking about how they feed themselves. That means thinking about what people can do to support that effort, like helping with administrative tasks,” said Faayani Aboma Mijana of the Coalition To March On The DNC.

The group is committed to peaceful protests and Chicago police have said they will not tolerate any criminal activity.

Police said they were prepared for the large demonstrations and that their officers were trained not to escalate situations that do not require this type of response. The CPD will respond flexibly to each situation.

“We’re specifically looking for violent actors, those who are committing acts of vandalism, committing violent attacks against police, against each other, against our citizens. That’s the kind of thing we’re not going to tolerate,” Snelling said. “There’s always the possibility that there are bad actors out there. We just have to be prepared for any intelligence that we gather, we should be ready and able to respond to it.”

On Monday evening, workers continued preparations for the security perimeter. Snelling made it clear on Monday that for the police there is a difference between demonstrations and riots like the one Chicago experienced during NATO.

“As soon as it starts, we will intervene. I will not wait until the situation gets out of control and then try to get it under control again,” Snelling said.

Snelling made it clear that protesters would be protected and rioters arrested.

But Woodruff said he doesn’t rely on police.

“We will not allow protesters to destroy this neighborhood. I will be sitting here with my Louisville Slugger,” Woodruff said.