Lack of real 'parks' leaves kids with idle time
by James Simpson

Potomac News
Friday, January 23, 2004

Susan S. Grohoski of Woodbridge made some very lucid points in her letter to the editor on Saturday, Jan. 17. One of her rhetorical questions was: "Remember when an open field was a football field one day, a baseball diamond the next and the gathering place for all the hoola hoops and jump ropes?"

That was, in fact, a pretty good example of the field behind my childhood home in Fairfax County. When it was built back in the '70s it had a baseball backstop, a modest basketball court and tennis court, and a small playground with a couple picnic tables. To top that off, it was located in the middle of three neighborhoods, where everyone could safely get to it on foot, bike or skateboard.

Imagine how many of these types of parks could be built with the millions of dollars spent on monsters like Valley View and Sudley Park! To add insult to injury, these parks are restricted to leagues, etc. Unlike the park in my old neighborhood, people aren't allowed to use those parks for anything they wish. Parks, mind you, which have been paid for by everyones' tax dollars.

In my old park, we would play Frisbee, football, soccer and other sports on the field. When a team would arrive to play softball, everyone would courteously give up the main field and play b-ball or goof around in the open areas at the periphery of the park.

I remember reading a quote that the Park Authority supported these colossal "championship-level softball and soccer fields" to attract teams to the county for playoffs and such. This was put forward as a way to bring more revenue into Prince William. Huh? When did the Park Authority decide its role was to provide "economic stimulus" for Prince William County? Are these folks even qualified to make such decisions?

Frankly, I believe that Prince William will benefit more from reasonable, balanced growth than through occasional visits from out-of-area sports teams. The county, and Park Authority, should focus on creating communities where sports fields - open to all citizens - are available in the center of neighborhoods, where they are safe to get to.

The way things are built now, people have to drive wherever they need to go - including work. Recent plans for so called "town centers," like the one across from the McCoart Administration Center, don't have a proper mix of residential, office, park and retail use. If anyone in the county was really interested in economic growth they would cut taxes and work to attract more businesses to (re)locate their offices here so people don't have to spend half their life in traffic trying to make a living.

There is an old saying that "idle hands" are the devils workshop. When I was a kid we couldn't get into trouble because there were too many fun things to do. My friends and I were always at the park.

There is a basketball court behind my townhouse that has been deteriorating for the past few years. When I moved in about seven years ago I asked my homeowners association to fix it. They said that it was not going to be repaired due to some complaints they had received in the past. This court is so recessed in the community, and actually hidden behind a grove of pine trees, that it will not attract any transient traffic - only local children.

Ever since one of my neighbors - who used to bring their portable basketball net to the court - moved, there has been an increase in vandalism and juvenile stunts in the community. We have a LOT of kids in our neighborhood. This court provides them a safe place to play. Take it away and they will have nothing to do but hang around and be "idle."

I have been told that the association agreed this past summer to fix the court after receiving a petition from local kids. It is my hope that they, and similar HOAs in the area, take an active role in providing places for children to gather and play.

On a related note: As someone who has grown up in the computer age, and worked in the technology field for the past 15 years, I will rail against "automated" law enforcement technology for the rest of my life. There are far too many reasons for this for me to go into right now. However, that being said, I really wish there were more police officers out on the street providing a reminder, and deterrence, to those who drive dangerously.

I feel like I am the only person who tries to drive within the speed limit on the way down to my town house on Mohican Road. Additionally, it seems that drivers think the yellow flashing lights on Old Bridge Road, near Woodbridge High School, are pointing out the MINIMUM speed limit.

As I mentioned earlier, we have a lot of children in this community, and I am surprised that more kids haven't been struck due to the careless habits of drivers around communities and schools.

Unfortunately, many of the folks I see speeding are those who should know better - such as moms in minivans or students who have only relatively recently received their drivers licenses.

James Simpson lives in Lake Ridge.