91 replies to this topic

[TomFoolery]

Definitely the parents are responsible here. Do they not know/care that they're kids aren't home at 3 am??? Granted, kids will be kids... and on hot summer nights it's understandable for them to want to hang out with friends and BS. But still, if my butt wasn't home by midnight, my folks were going to come looking for me. And today in the age of cell phones, it's even easier to reach a teen and tell them to get their tail home.

Yikes. I don't ever want to get to a point that not knowing where my kids are or what they're up to at 3 am is normal. (of course I just recently joined the ranks of "teenager parent", so don't have a lot of experience here - maybe I'm being naive)

Thanks PC. I just got off the phone with Folsom PD. They say, keep calling. But, you are right. It's the parents who are derelict in their responsibility. I have to look at this philosophically. We don't have neighbors looking into our backyard, but we got kids in the park late at night. Trade off.

[kaybird]

Check out this idea:

http://www.noloitering.ca/faq.php#q1

Creative, huh?

[Robert Giacometti]

Thanks PC. I just got off the phone with Folsom PD. They say, keep calling. But, you are right. It's the parents who are derelict in their responsibility. I have to look at this philosophically. We don't have neighbors looking into our backyard, but we got kids in the park late at night. Trade off.

This park has had this problem/reputation since almost right after it opened.

Somebody suggested part of the problem in policing is in the design of the park. It appears the dirt that was dug out to put in the structures was piled on top of the dirt in front forming a lip and therefore blocking the view from the street.

As officers patrol and drive by, and they do, they can't see into the park without stopping and getting out and walking up the grass, by then the teens are gone out the back.

Teens are very creative telling parents they are at others houses or sneaking out at night. With so many single parents households its easier to sneak out as well.

I'd call the police EVERY time you hear voices after dark in the park.

[Steve Heard]

This park has had this problem/reputation since almost right after it opened.

Somebody suggested part of the problem in policing is in the design of the park. It appears the dirt that was dug out to put in the structures was piled on top of the dirt in front forming a lip and therefore blocking the view from the street.

As officers patrol and drive by, and they do, they can't see into the park without stopping and getting out and walking up the grass, by then the teens are gone out the back.

Teens are very creative telling parents they are at others houses or sneaking out at night. With so many single parents households its easier to sneak out as well.

I'd call the police EVERY time you hear voices after dark in the park.

Zackly!

The kids hang out in parks where they can hide, escape, or see the cops coming.

Ed Mitchell park on Willow Creek is below street level and therefore protected, and there are several way in and out. At BT Collins, they hang out up near the top of the hill, where they can see the cops coming, and can exit out the back. Catlin goes far back enough that again, they can see the cops coming.

When my oldest was 15, she was supposed to be sleeping at a friend's house. The mom was asleep, and they left to meet up with friends at Kemp Park. The friends had invited other friends who were poser punks from Citrus Heights. By the time the cops got there, the punks had emptied the trash cans and spread it all over the field, and had thrown beer bottles and cans allover the place. I got a call around midnight to pick my girl up, and found that several of her 15 and 16 year old girlfriends were also there.

It was quite a scene; messy park, half a dozen cop cars, angry parents, several crying girls, and a bunch of punk idiots with make up and mohawks, some cursing the cops and George Bush.

The cops told me it was an on-going problem for as long as they could remember. I thought about it, and remember my days hanging out past curfew at Grasshopper Hill, Dolores Park, Westlake Park and others I grew up near.

By the way, 'kids' is a relative term. I know some of the kids who hang out in Ed Mitchell. they are neighborhood kids, many of whom are actually adults now, but have been playing in that park since they were small.

Just keep calling the cops. They'll get them to leave.

[momodillie]

It is a problem that has been going on for a long time. I remember when I was a teen in Folsom, we would 4-wheel to areas of town that were unoccupied, but are now Empire Ranch, Broadstone, and where Costco is. We would also go south of 50 and hang out where we weren't bothering anyone.

And while it is the parents' resposibilities, it is so easy to get around after hours without parents knowing. Sleeping at a friend's house, sneaking out after parents are asleep, making curfew then heading back out. All things that have been done before, probably by these kids own parents, and now their kids are doing it.

I would keep calling the police when you hear voices. Maybe you can befriend a few of the officers and have one waiting behind the park while the other goes to the front, then maybe they can get a few who have scattered away?

[old soldier]

It is a problem that has been going on for a long time. I remember when I was a teen in Folsom, we would 4-wheel to areas of town that were unoccupied, but are now Empire Ranch, Broadstone, and where Costco is. We would also go south of 50 and hang out where we weren't bothering anyone.

And while it is the parents' resposibilities, it is so easy to get around after hours without parents knowing. Sleeping at a friend's house, sneaking out after parents are asleep, making curfew then heading back out. All things that have been done before, probably by these kids own parents, and now their kids are doing it.

I would keep calling the police when you hear voices. Maybe you can befriend a few of the officers and have one waiting behind the park while the other goes to the front, then maybe they can get a few who have scattered away?

I would think the kids would run and scatter when the cops arrive. this could be handled with a couple of police dogs who could run faster and track them down in the dark. first the police could get the word out when a dog chases you its best to freeze and you won't get bitten

that just might take the fun out of those late night gatherings

[MikeinFolsom]

Go buy a 1,000,000 candle power spotlight at Pep Boys. Get a few friends together and grab a camcorder. Sit and wait. When you see them approach the park, fire up the spotlight and the video camera. Walk towards them while you're filming and let them know you'll turn it in to the cops. They'll get the idea. Heck, I volunteer to be your camera man.

[polycat]

Go buy a 1,000,000 candle power spotlight at Pep Boys. Get a few friends together and grab a camcorder. Sit and wait. When you see them approach the park, fire up the spotlight and the video camera. Walk towards them while you're filming and let them know you'll turn it in to the cops. They'll get the idea. Heck, I volunteer to be your camera man.

That just might be some entertaining footage! Let us know if you have a screening... I'll make popcorn.

[momodillie]

I'll bring beer and cocktails....maybe we could have it in a park???

[mylo]

I'll bring beer and cocktails....maybe we could have it in a park???

Midnight screening! I'll bring the projector and loudspeakers!

[polycat]

Midnight screening! I'll bring the projector and loudspeakers!

I like you guys... you make me laugh

[chris v]

It's simple... you don't like it, take your park back. Sit in the dark with a group of neighbors and wait for the kids... Have bats and other things. When they show up chase em off. They will get the hint.

Don't waste the cops time.

[Andrea V]

It's simple... you don't like it, take your park back. Sit in the dark with a group of neighbors and wait for the kids... Have bats and other things. When they show up chase em off. They will get the hint.

Don't waste the cops time.

Skip the bat part, and bring a lot of neighbors!

[ducky]

Skip the bat part, and bring a lot of neighbors!

Yeah. A lot of neighbors WITH PAINT GUNS!

[Dave Burrell]

It's simple... you don't like it, take your park back. Sit in the dark with a group of neighbors and wait for the kids... Have bats and other things. When they show up chase em off. They will get the hint.

Don't waste the cops time.

wearing camouflage would be best, hide out and then surprise and scare the heck out of 'em!

just make sure no lawyers are around so you don't get sued for making the kiddies soil their undies