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For The Record: Sitting Near A Playground Without Children Is Legal
By
Garth Johnston
Published Aug 17, 2011
Modified Aug 17, 2011
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By
Garth Johnston
Published Aug 17, 2011
Modified Aug 17, 2011
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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!
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Garth Johnston
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