I had an unfortunate experience with Jersey City Police Monday evening in Riverview-Fiske Park after a friend and I tried to stop a pack of rowdy kids from playing soccer in the enclosed playground area clearly intended for toddler, preschool and school-aged children (to 12 years). The following is a letter that explains the situation in more detail and requests clarification on playground and park rules from the Director of Parks and Forestry:
May 4th, 2010
To: Rodney Hadley, Director of Public Works Department, Jersey City, NJ
From: Sergio Sandino
RE: Playground/City Park rules and regulations
Mr. Hadley,
I called your office earlier today for some clarification on park and playground rules in relation to an incident in Riverview-Fiske Park yesterday afternoon. A gentleman in your office asked me to write my concerns and fax you this letter.
Yesterday, May 3rd, 2010, my 3-year-old son and I, and a friend with his 3-year-old son met to play at the playground in Riverview-Fiske Park on Palisade Avenue in Jersey City Heights.
It was about 5:30pm when a large group of kids, ranging in age from about 8 to 13, began playing soccer in the enclosed playground area where we, and other parents with toddlers, were playing. These kids were kicking the ball all over the playground, including high up in the air and though the playground equipment.
My friend approached them when the ball nearly hit his son as he was coming down one of the slides. The kids were belligerent, confrontational, and disrespectful. They refused to stop playing in the area when we asked them to play on the grassy areas of the park.
When the police came over to talk to us and to the children, they did not know the park rules either, and insisted that the kids be allowed to continue playing in the playground. The officers told us that we were free to leave the playground if we felt that our children could be harmed. We did.
Unfortunately, there were no posted park or playground rules, so there was no way for us to prove that ball playing is not allowed in that part of the park. Can you help with this issue?
Are there official rules for playground and city parks that could be posted at the entrance of this park? Can you provide me with a list of rules so that I can share them with other families and residents that enjoy the city parks? I am aware of the municipal code which states that ball-playing should be confined to areas that are intended for those kinds of activities, but this seems vague at best and does not explicitly state that ball playing is NOT allowed in certain areas such as a playground intended for children from toddler age up to 12.
Thank you very much for your time, I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Regards,
Sergio Sandino
