‘Why was I kicked out?'

To the editor: The Pine Island Parks and Recreation (PIPR) Department has apparently written its own law regarding the use of Pine Island Park, closing the park to the public Wednesday mornings during its summer recreation program. Simply posting a sign announcing the park will be closed to the public does not give the PIPR Department the legal authority to eject others from the park as they did to my family this Wednesday. As parents, we certainly understand the many dangers inherent in supervising a group of children, especially a group as large as the summer rec program. We are grateful to live in a community that offers these quality children’s programs. However, it is unjust and unlawful to preclude the rest of the taxpaying citizens from enjoying public spaces for the benefit of the few. If parents are concerned about the level of supervision their children receive under a publicly funded recreation program occupying public lands, then perhaps they should personally accompany their children to the parks or remove their children from said program. Forcing the rest of the community to leave the park is poor citizenship. Perhaps the Pine Island Parks and Rec Department should consider using school grounds for their program if they wish to exercise exclusive rights to the property. Schools are not open to the public in the same way that parks are, and may better address the safety needs of the PIPR Department Warwick Parks and Recreation Department, which uses Stanley Deming Park, does not require the public to forfeit use of that facility during its programs. PIPR should cease and desist from this unreasonable and unlawful practice. Anthony and Kathleen Vitiello Warwick