I had written close to a book about this because I'm p.o.'ed, but I'll keep it short and respond to the follow up posts.
The Joe e Brown park is not located in the best neighborhood. I've personally seen used condoms, broken glass, liquor bottles, etc in the children's playground there. Everytime I'm there, at events such as baseball, cookouts, little league, football practice, and soccer, I've seen vehicles parked on the grass because the only authorized parking is about 1/4 mile away from everything but the one ball field. Today in that same parking lot was not one, but two large pieces of shattered glass. They looked like automobile side windows. From the tennis court, you can't even see the parking lot.
I have been using the tennis court for the Toledo Street Hockey league for over 2 months. I'm trying to start a "Sticks and skates for kids" program to supply kids that can't afford or get equipment, to get loaner equipment to play. I have over 100 players in the league.
Due to the equipment, many players drive right to the tennis court and park. I have two 50 pound nets, first aid kit, paperwork for scoring and teams, water cooler for players, etc, I park next to the court too. If you go there right now, there is no damage from our cars, no tire tracks, no damage at all from our parking. We are only there Sat and Sunday.
Today some power hungry "park board member" showed up to hassle us. He was in jeans, but had a cute little nametag on. He informed me that he recently had a meeting and that all board members were driving around on Saturday to report anyone parking on the grass in the parks due to damage from vehicles. I asked him if he could show me any damage that our vehicles caused, but he declined. I asked him if he would leave his car unattended and out of view in that neighborhood, and he said "no". I told him that I was personally responsible for any damage that our cars would cause, but he said, "no". He called the police and when the policeman arrived, he told me that he would ticket any car parked there.
When I first found that abandon tennis court, it no longer had a net and had no real use. We got permission and removed the posts on our own. We pick up our trash and either put it into the only trash can in the park, or bag it and leave it next the to can in the park. We purchased paint and painted the lines on the court. We have made that court and park better than when we found it.
So I ask, why are we being hassled? If told before by a park representative that the reason they don't put a basketball hoop in the park is because it will bring too much "questionable" activity, why hassle the group making the place better?
I guess that saving the "so-called" grass from unknown or unproven damage is more important than cleaning up the broken glass, condoms, or preventing other illegal activity that goes on there at other times. I'd like to see Mr. Board Member show up there after dark and try to tell people about his rules and policies.
I am also part of this league and work with the Stick and Skates for Kids and would like to share my experience as well. When I was there helping paint those courts (covering the foul words painted on the court) there were about five children out there trying to climb the fence that surrounds the court. The language that these children used was horrible. I engaged them in conversation and we talked about the language. Do you know I paid attention to them and they followed us the whole time seeking time from someone? This was the first indication that there was a need for a program that involved these children. Since that time I have talked to soooo many kids from the ages of 3 to teens and have got them involved in doing something beside gang banging and drugs. These children are sent to the park by themselves. If they express an interest we get them out there and playing.
A couple weeks ago we we out there practicing and some of the guys had thier personal items on the picnic table not too far from where they were playing. There were about ten guys, me (female), and my daughter 10 there. The guys were in behind the fence playing and two kids rode up on their bikes. Went over to the table and attempted to steal a wallet. I intervened until the guys came out and chased them away.
I have watched grown men urinate in the play ground where the children play. I have watch a group of eight children beat a duck that they had in a carrier until we intervened and saved the duck. I personally, go around the area we use and pick up trash. Not only from the guys but also from others. I have given children water that are dying of thirst but have been told to stay at the park.
We have made a difference in the lives of these children and we have also made a difference in the neighborhood. The grass is fine and still full of glass and used condoms but at least the Daniel Freiheit (Board memeber) came out to scold us for ???? Excellent !
posted by missv on Jul 26, 2008 at 06:50:59 pm #