Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
For The Record: Sitting Near A Playground Without Children Is Legal
By
Garth Johnston
Published Aug 17, 2011
Modified Aug 17, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Garth Johnston
Published Aug 17, 2011
Modified Aug 17, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Good news for fans of sitting near playgrounds without children! Back in June we told you about four twentysomethings who were ticketed by the police because they were sitting, eating doughnuts, in a Bed-Stuy playground unaccompanied by children. Two months later at least half of those tickets have been dismissed and sealed. Meanwhile in Manhattan, at least, it seems that cops are giving elderly women warnings about where they are sitting rather than tickets. Oh, and the Parks Department seems to understand that their signage can be a little confusing if placed in the wrong spot.
But first the "doughnut tickets." The woman who first told us about the tickets wrote in recently to tell us that she and her friend from out of town, after writing letters to the court, were informed that their summonses had been dismissed. They didn't even have to go to court. The other ticketed couple didn't write any letters, however, and we're waiting to hear from them how their court appearance went last Friday.
Meanwhile WCBS today has the story of Harri Molese, a 73-year-old Upper East Sider who likes to go and sit in a Ruppert Park, which is by her apartment. She doesn't even sit in the playground area, preferring to read at a checkers table. Unfortunately some kids like to use that table as third base while playing Wiffle ball and recently they hit her with one. After the hit she asked them to move but they declined. So last weekend when she returned to the park she asked one of their parents if they could move them into 91st Street, which is closed to traffic. But the parents didn't like that idea and told her she wasn't even allowed to be there, something a police officer she then spoke to agreed with (though he didn't write her a ticket). But there is a reason why you don't mess with older ladies!
Molese knew that, unlike those doughnut eaters, she had every right to be sitting where she was. So she contacted CBS, who contacted the Parks Department and complained. And they say they are on it, telling the news station that "We will move the signage indicating the no adults in playground rule away from the park entrance at East 91st Street and move it closer to the physical playground, to avoid any future confusion.” Huzzah!
Tagged
doughnuts
nypd
parks department
playground
tickets
Garth Johnston
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Gov. Hochul says NYS will help provide lawyers to unaided migrant children
The state will help close a funding gap created when the Trump administration let a legal services contract lapse.
By
Arya Sundaram
Published Aug 12, 2026 at 3:11 p.m. ET
Is 'woke' a joke? AOC sparks debate among NYC progressives about liberal excess.
Prominent progressives have a new humorous shorthand as they distance themselves from unpopular left-wing policies.
By
Elizabeth Kim
News
Is 'woke' a joke? AOC sparks debate among NYC progressives about liberal excess.
Prominent progressives have a new humorous shorthand as they distance themselves from unpopular left-wing policies.
By
Elizabeth Kim
Early Addition: The Queens home intruder who plopped on the couch and looked at her phone
By
Dana Binfet
Parks worker helped 10-year-old light firework that blew off her fingers, NYPD says
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Mamdani promised cheaper groceries in NYC. Here’s how the city plans to do it.
By
Karen Yi
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .