Tables at Dracena, Pick-Up Soccer at Beach, But No Major Infractions

Based on the information collected by park monitor Jessica Breslin during a recently completed pilot program, Recreation Director Mark Delventhal told the Recreation Commission Wednesday that the rule violations at Dracena Quarry Park and Beach Playfield are, "essentially unremarkable."

“There are some issues, but I think they are fairly mild," Delventhal said.

Breslin, a graduate of Georgetown Law School, monitored the two parks from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. one day a weekend, rotating Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, from July 9 through Oct. 30.

Half a dozen times during that period, Breslin spoke to patrons who had set up a small table for a child's birthday party or family outing to Dracena, violating the park's furniture ban. She noted that park-goers were cooperative once they'd been reminded of the rules.

“They always apologized and often offered to remove the table unprovoked,” wrote Breslin. “Park users … promised to leave the table at home during their next outing.”

Each of the 14 times Breslin visited Beach she wound up having discussions with groups playing soccer, though she reported that, "there were never any technical violations of the rules." The groups never had more than 11 adults playing at a time and most of those who claimed to be 21 years old or younger “reasonably appeared” to be so, according to the park monitor.

Though the soccer players had a consistent presence at Beach, they were “very respectful of other park users,” Breslin wrote. The groups kept noise levels down, made room for other field users, and allowed teenagers and younger children to join in the games.

While the park monitor watched for rule violations she also worked to develop a positive relationship with park-goers.

“Groups come back over and over [to Beach], so they now know our monitor,” Delventhal told the Recreation Commission. “That rapport has been built.”

The Recreation Director said there were significant benefits to having a monitor, and suggested continuing the program from March through June next year to collect more data.Commission members expressed support for that idea.

“Having a monitor be there on a occasion is so much better than having the police there,” said commission member Kim Hebert.

Commission member Terry London said a broader spectrum of data was necessary. He described the presence of large groups as having a “chilling effect” on families.

“People see big guys and they turn around and they leave,” he said. “I don’t think that’s being reflected in the data.”

Commission member Stephen Mills agreed. “It can be intimidating if you want to throw around a ball with your son or daughter.”

Hebert asked whether the regular groups could rent the field for the times they play to avoid any conflict with other park users.  

Delventhal said this wouldn’t be possible. Since the fields are regularly booked for sports like soccer, lacrosse and baseball, he explained, the remaining hours are left unscheduled, "so informal neighborhood use can occur.”

Commission members mentioned that large groups at Becker Playfield at Havens Elementary School have also become a problem. Hebert said a friend of hers who lives across the street from the field reported a “tremendous amount of players” on Sundays. This past Sunday, Nov. 13, a at an adult pick-up game there.

Chairman Dick Hunt said that problem was out of the commission’s hands.

“It’s technically not under our jurisdiction,” said Hunt. “It’s up to the school district and school board to resolve.”

Nevertheless, Hunt said the situation at Havens needs to be addressed. He suggested coming up with recommendations to present to Piedmont Unified School District Assistant Superintendent Michael Brady.

“We can’t just ignore it,” he said.