Park Monitor Records Few Problems So Far

The Recreation Department’s pilot monitoring program has detected no major problems since it launched earlier this month in response to complaints about parties at Dracena Quarry Park and adult soccer games dominating Beach Playfield in violation of park rules.

Monitor Jessica Breslin is greeting park goers and keeping a written record of who is visiting and how they are making use of the facilities to give the city a clearer idea of what’s going on. She has had two shifts since the program started July 8, both without serious incident.

“It’s been pretty uneventful,” Recreation Director Mark Delventhal reported to the Recreation Commission Wednesday.

Breslin did have to remind a family not to bring their large table along with them to Dracena in the future. She also had a chat with a soccer team, requesting that they only use half of Beach Playfield for their game.

Breslin, who also supervises the department's adult basketball program, will continue monitoring the two parks from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. one day a weekend, rotating Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, through October.

Commission Member Kim Hebert suggested monitoring take place even on rainy days when she said rowdy soccer players take advantage of the deserted grounds.

“I’ve witnessed huge groups come during the drizzle when no one’s around,” she said. “That’s when you tend to get a large rambunctious soccer game.”

Chairman Dick Hunt said that while the monitor should be on the lookout for rule violations, her top priority should be to ensure the public's enjoyment of the parks is not being compromised.

“What we’re most concerned about are the impacts,” said Hunt. “If someone is not impacting easy use of the park, that’s okay.”