Another Park: More Rules, More Cameras.
I meant to go to the Parks meeting on Wednesday, but was working and ran out of time and energy. Looks like they had a discussion about more rules for Penn Park. Here’s the Cap Times article on the meeting. After reading it, I wish I had gone to hear the discussion.
The issue that caught my eye – which I hope is just bad reporting/editing – but fear that it is not. Comes in the third paragraph:
Bradley Wilson said the majority of calls to the park stem from loiterers in the late afternoon and evening . . .
I thought at first I must be missing something, so I looked up the definition:
loi·ter (loi’tər)
v. loi·tered, loi·ter·ing, loi·ters1. To stand idly about; linger aimlessly.
2. To proceed slowly or with many stops: loitered all the way home.
3. To delay or dawdle: loiter over a task.
Um . . . aren’t parks meant for loitering. How can you tell the difference between someone who is loitering, and someone who is using the park in a “legitimate” way? Must one be actively engaged in a sporting event or activity in order to not be loitering? If someone is sitting on a bench, how can you tell if they are loitering or enjoying the park? When you’re done with your picnic, must you immediately pack up and leave?
Manny asks another good question:
Some board members expressed concern that additional policing would discourage those using the park legitimately. Board member Emanuel Scarborough highlighted the diversity of south Madison, saying that it often brings in people who feel more comfortable there than in their less-diverse neighborhoods.
“How do we isolate those individuals that come there for ill will from who come because they are comfortable around people like them?” asked Scarborough.
Seriously? Loitering? In a park? The police actually show up when someone calls about this? On any given sunny day in the summer, I’m sure we would find many, many people loitering in our parks – should we call the police? Are we in danger?
