Soccer Players at Cadman Plaza
I posted this on brooklynheightsblog.com, but wanted to post it here too in case others from the neighbourhood only read Brownstoner. There is a large, organized group of adult soccer players who constantly hog almost all of the Cadman Plaza turf on weekends and some weeknights now (it is becoming more frequent). I was there…
I posted this on brooklynheightsblog.com, but wanted to post it here too in case others from the neighbourhood only read Brownstoner. There is a large, organized group of adult soccer players who constantly hog almost all of the Cadman Plaza turf on weekends and some weeknights now (it is becoming more frequent). I was there a couple of weekends ago with my kids and there was not one free inch of turf for them to play on. I set up to play soccer with my kids in a small section of the corner and the players said “you’re going to get hurtâ€. They said it’s basically first come, first served. Yet if one is in the middle of the field when they show up, they’ll ask you to move and, if you don’t, will just start playing around you, which will force you to leave.
Anybody else encounter this problem and, if so, any ideas on how to deal with it? I did submit a complaint to the Parks Dept here and we’ll see if that goes anywhere
http://nyc.gov/html/mail/html/maildpr.html I just don’t want to reinvent the wheel if people are already organizing a campaign to get the players off or to at least have them share more of the field.
I fear some child is going to get injured by a hard kicked ball at some point. Being my cynical self, I don’t imagine going to that washroom area behind the memorial to get a parks employee will do anything.
There’s also the issue of dogs going on the turf (and pooping), despite there being a giant dog run nearby, but I’m trying to deal with one issue at a time.
This has nothing to do with “diversity” it has to do with sharing a public space. It is only fair that people of all ages (and yes, races) should share the space. That includes small children. No one group should be allowed to bully their way onto the area to the detriment of others…especially if they are using their race to do so.
I run in the park and usually the space is peacefully shared by many. What we need to keep the peace are signs that lay down the rules for those who do not know them.
My question is why do you think that you and your children have more of a right than adults to use a public space? i’m not affiliated with them, but the soccer players you’ve mentioned are a bunch of brooklyn people who get great joy out of knowing they can join in on a weekly soccer game. i have teenage children who’ve grown up with the parks as their playgrounds, and one of the great things about the city parks is being able to witness the coming together of diverse groups of people in these games.
Biff: I understood that you didn’t want a permit, but if you go to that link you’ll find phone numbers for the permit offices, and also a “guidelines” sublink. The phone numbers can help you connect with another live representative (besides Benepe), give you a way to discover whether their game requires and has permits, and also an opportunity to convey your concerns/experiences.
Thanks so much, vinca. I wrote to the commissioner earlier. I don’t want to get a permit, I want them to have to get one to play or somehow have to give up some of the field. But I don’t know who on earth would enforce that.
I think contacting Commissioner Benepe is the way to go, which you’ve done above. You might also want to look at this link: http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_permits_and_applications/athletic_permits_and_apps.html
I used to play in a league in a public park many years ago. For both better and worse, permitting restrictions have gotten much more elaborate and burdensome since that time. Enforcement, and/or selective enforcement, is a different matter.
I don’t see any soccer game going on but I bet wasder wouldn’t want to have to mow that lawn with an electric mower.