Herschlag - Thoughts On Rollins Park

Regarding the recent incident at the Rollins Park playground. While I would expect this type of exceptional response from our police officers, their actions still deserve to be recognized as a reminder of the professionalism those who serve our community display.

And now to the crux of the issue. This incident had nothing to do with sheltering in place or loss of personal freedoms. The city’s code of ordinances specifically gives authority to the Director of Parks and Recreation to establish rules regarding the use of the city’s recreation facilities.

While the closure of the playground is directly related to the COVID 19 virus, the authority to regulate the use of recreation facilities is at the discretion of the Director of Parks and Recreation. This has nothing to do with violating constitutional rights or government overstepping its authority.

The actions and behavior of those who acted out and ignored the closure of the playground was not a protest or an attempt to reclaim their rights. It was simply a violation of our city’s regulatory authority, approved long before the onset of the current situation.

The people involved in the incident at the park should be ashamed of their actions, the example they set for their children and the time that they took away from our law enforcement officers. They owe our officers and our community an apology. And an explanation to their children that they acted inappropriately, so their children won’t repeat the same ignorant behavior of their parents.

Here is the portion of the city’s code of ordiannces that provides specific authority to regulate the use of our city's recreation facilities.

6-1-9 - Parks and Recreation Director.

It shall be the duty of the Parks and Recreation Director to issue regulations:

(a)Fixing the times when the recreation facilities or parts thereof shall be open to public use.

(b)Designating recreation facilities and parts thereof as restricted to the use of certain portions by the public at certain times as the Parks and Recreation Director sees fit.

(c)Providing for the issuing, under uniform conditions to be prescribed by the Parks and Recreation Director, permits for regulated uses as enumerated in this Chapter.

(d)Fixing the charge, and collect such fees and deposits for the use of recreation facilities or privileges as the Parks and Recreation Director deems advisable to help defray the expense of the recreation facilities.

(e)Providing for the use by permit of a recreation facility by vehicle carrying merchandise, passengers for hire, hauling equipment, appliances, or towing a trailer.