When they say the weather will be warm, in the 50’s, the next few days I am thinking spring. When they say the sun will be out most of this week I am thinking spring. When I am thinking spring I am thinking growing season, working in the gardens, and children, young adults and adults playing golf, soccer, on playground equipment and hopefully basketball, full and half court at the park across the street, Doyne Park.
After over 30 years of playing full court basketball at Doyne Park a few neighbors, without consulting the youth playing basketball in the park had the County Park system take down a rim making it impossible to play full court basketball in the park. I called it discrimination, since it was a decision affecting young adults playing basketball on the courts without consulting them. I believe that neighbors around a country park should have some input into how the park operates but should not decide what park activities are allowed in the park. If there was a problem with behavior young adults playing basketball in the park the county park should have first post and make clear rules and conditions before taking down the rims without consulting with users. If golfers were abusing the golf course they would be warned and asked to leave but I doubt the golf course would be closed. The same goes for the parents who drive on the walk/bike trail to pick up their high school daughters playing soccer at the field. Would they be warned first before closing the soccer field? Of course. The golfers on the golf course and the high school girls playing soccer are mostly white and the young adult males playing full court basketball are mostly African-American.
Discrimination against young adults, African American males, persons with mental illness, elderly people, and disabled people is discrimination. Maybe with the rain, sun and the green grass of spring we will come to a fresh look at the county park system, one that includes No Discrimination in County Parks?
Comments
(:commentboxchrono:)
