By MARGARET L. WILLIS

A letter from the mother of a young child prompted a philosophical discussion at Tuesday’s Chesterton Park Board about adult assertiveness and setting limits on public behavior by teens.

Chesterton resident Cathy Sparks wrote to the park board and the Chesterton Police Chief, noting disrespectful behavior by middle school and high school age teens is creating an unpleasant atmosphere for young children and their parents at Dunes Friendship Land’s playground.

Sparks said “smoking, littering, use of foul language and inappropriate displays of public affection,” were activities that need to be curbed and urged the police department, town council and park board to take action.

Sparks also related witnessing two boys taking “large numbers of pills,” at the water fountain near the tennis courts.

Sparks said she is a high school teacher who enjoys students of this age, is glad the youngsters are outdoors and that they have as much right to enjoy the park as anyone else.

“I am, however, greatly distressed by the behavior of certain groups. . . A public park should be for everyone to enjoy. Tax-paying and law-abiding citizens should not have to hesitate to take their families to the park.”

Park board members agreed that littering and vandalism have been recurrent problems in all parks, and urged anyone witnessing those or other problems to notify the police.

“It is nice that she is notifying us of problems,” said board member Ted Jacobs, adding that in many situations, “the proper procedure is to call police.”

“Any citizen can take action to reduce the drug problem,” he added, encouraging anyone who witnesses such behavior to “nip it in the bud.”

Board president Vincent Emanuele added that the park board itself can make rules about park use “but we don’t have enforcement powers.”

The board agreed with Park Superintendent Bruce Mathias that park use rules should be posted at the entrances to the playground area. “At least they won’t be able to claim they don’t know what the rules are,” Mathias said.

Board members Roy Flaherty and John Kroft noted that in the past sufficient lighting has been a problem at Friendship Land; though that area of the park is officially closed at dusk.

Flaherty suggested that additional lighting might be added at the playground area when new lights are installed at the tennis courts, one of the park renovations planned as part of the recent bond issue.

Jacobs added that a request should be made to the police department for additional patrols of the area.

Kroft urged adults to confront youth on their poor behavior. Cell phones can be put to good use in such situations. “It takes an adult presence to let them know when they’re out of line and to draw the line.”

Emanuele agreed, saying though parents who will confront teens may be in the minority, “they need to know they’ll have consequences.”

Skateboarders Trying Patience

In a related matter, Jacobs said the Thomas Park fountain is nice and with the new landscaping the park looks great, but “Skateboarders are abusing the fountain area.”

Jacob’s continued “I want to say that I’ve been on these kid’s side. I know they need a place to go, but this is exactly the wrong thing to be doing to get community sympathy for building a place to skateboard.

“As far as this board member is concerned,” he said in warning, “if that fountain is damaged, I will work against them.”

Town Council president Sharon Darnell added that the skateboarders need to “take ownership of the parks--all the parks--and show they can respect their park area when they get it.”

Funds for a concrete pad for a skateboard area are included in the recent bond issue.

In other business, Mathias thanked the Duneland Chamber of Commerce committee which organized and cleaned up after the recent Party in the Park.

“The event went well and they left the park in nice shape” he said.

Mathias also reported that new poles and electrical lines have been installed at Dogwood Park, the softball fencing is complete and the detention ponds are underway.

New starting blocks have been installed in the pool at Chesterton Middle School, where the Park Department runs the Duneland Swim Club program.

A boardwalk in Coffee Creek is near completion with the last element, the railings, underway.

Mathias also thanked the town Utility Department for assistance in unblocking a sewer line at Dogwood Park.

Posted 9/6/2006