Doug’s Rant on Saving Spots at the Rec Center
July 5, 2008 by Doug Dillard
Filed under Doug Speaks
I woke up this morning still wiped out from yesterday’s festivities. My 4th of July celebration actually started on the day before, as we get everything ready early on the 3rd and then head over to the Rec Center about 4:00 PM to grab our prime spot so we have it for the next day. We have been in the same spot for over 10 years. Each year we have been getting there an hour or so earlier than we did the year before, as more and more people start showing up each year. We usually have about 10 to 15 friends show up that night and we hang out, play games, and socialize to about midnight. Then we have at least 2 guys camp out in a tent to keep the spot.
Well this year we had lunch over at Callahan’s, and after we ate (around 1:30), me and my boys drove by the Rec Center to see if people had already started setting up for the next day. To my surprise there were tons of people already staking out spots. Someone had even taken our traditional spot.
Now, I would not have been mad at all if I saw someone sitting there holding the spot. I would have walked over and said, “Bummer, you got our favorite spot”, asked him what time he got there, and that would have been that. But that is not what happened.
These guys came early in the morning and took plastic tape (like police tape) and wrapped it around a couple of trees and a few chairs to mark their territory, and then left, leaving no one there to hold the spot. Then they showed up about 4:30 in the afternoon and started setting up.
In my opinion, that is just not right. That is like waiting in line to buy tickets to some big event coming up and putting your chair there 2 days early, and then showing up when the ticket box opens up.
I actually went around and spoke to several people that had been there all day and they said that they saw lots of people getting there at 7 AM and taping off areas and then going to work for the day. There were even a couple of real young guys that taped off their area on the night of July 2nd and then showed up around 5 PM on the 3rd. Now that is really crazy.
Okay, I am going to quit rambling on about this, as we actually got a fine spot and we had a great day. That just really bugged me at the time and I promised myself I would write a post and see what other people thought. So, if you would please leave a comment below letting me know what you think about people being able to hold a spot without actually being there, I would really appreciate it. I may be totally wrong in my thinking… that is why I want to get your opinion.
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Mark Smith on Sun, 6th Jul 2008 6:20 am
I have to agree with you about having someone hold the spot by staying there. As long as you are reasonable about the amount of space you are holding, you should at least put forth the effort of having someone there to talk to others that might be in the same position of trying to secure a spot for their group. It helps in directing the group to a specific location on a somewhat crazy day, but it also insures that those partying around you are respectful of your space as you are respectful of theirs.
I am the kind of person who talks to everyone, so it also lets me meet my fellow neighbors and make more friends that I otherwise would not have talked to. Share ice, lend a hand putting up a canope, and be a good neighbor. Putting up caution tape and leaving seems like line cutting to me, and in grade school we would have sent them to the end of the line.
Sandy S on Sun, 6th Jul 2008 8:56 am
Doug, your are absolutely right on your feelings. I took my daughter to the park on Thursday afternoon to play on the play structures and we brought lunch from McDonald’s. We couldn’t even find a bench to sit down and have lunch, as people had put tape around them all and there was no one even around. I believe there needs to be some kind of rule in place that does not allow that. They should have the Parks and Rec people just go around and cut down the tape if no one is there. If I were you, next time I would just cut down the tape and put your stuff there.
Doug Dillard on Sun, 6th Jul 2008 9:22 am
Thanks for the comments. I had a couple people ask me if I was mad because someone beat me to the spot. Not at all. I would have been bummed (sad) if someone had beaten me to the spot, but definitely not mad. I was only mad because no one was there. If this is allowed to go on, people are going to start taping off their spot a week in advance.
Keep on commenting, as I want to hear from a lot of people to see what other people think.
charlene on Mon, 7th Jul 2008 10:23 am
I do not save a space myself as we come and go all day long because we are part of so many of the activities. Saving a space is fine and if you want to camp out the night before that is great too but I think that no one should be allowed to save a space earlier than around 5 or 6 the night of the 3rd because other people want to use the park as a park. all of this taping off and holding spots infringes on the rights of the people enjoying it on the 3rd. There needs to be a park rule about how soon reservations can be made. That way everyone has equal opportunity.
Ricardo on Mon, 7th Jul 2008 11:21 am
You want opinions, so here is mine
Even your coming in on the 3rd and staying all night seems wrong to me. You said it yourself that if it’s allowed to continue, people will start arriving a week in advance. That same thing can happen whether anyone is required to stay there to keep the spot or not. And if I recall correctly, there is no overnight camping allowed in the park.
I’m thinking that either no one should be allowed to grab a space before 6:00am (maybe have a crew clear everyone out at 5:00am), or we need to set up a reservation system. The park could be marked off with numbered spaces and some sort of lottery would be used to determine who gets which space.
Maybe I should not get a say since this doesn’t really affect me. I get a great view of the fireworks from my house, so I’ve never spent the whole evening at the park. But you did ask for comments.
Jennifer O'Connell on Mon, 7th Jul 2008 3:38 pm
Doug,
I think you had a great attitude about the whole thing. Sounds like you and your friends had fun, and that’s what it’s all about. I can see why you were irked though. I would have felt the same way.
I am sure there is probably some ordinance about camping out in the park (as mentioned by another poster), but it’s once a year…I am sure the spirit of the law (if there is one) was intended to prevent every day loitering. 4th of July is a special event.
I agree with Mike, I wish we could send absentee spot savers to the back of the line. It’s too bad though. I say, if you want to come early and save a spot by camping out, more power to you. Great times can be had while waiting in lines. However, I don’t think it’s fair to tape off an area, leave for the night or day, and then come back shortly before the parade/fireworks. I probably wouldn’t go so far as to remove the tape and camp out there myself. Of course, if the tape just happened to fall down and blow away…
Shawna on Tue, 8th Jul 2008 10:48 am
I agree with someone else’s comment that a rule be created that no spots be held until a specific time. Perhaps the evening prior? And that the spot be attended to by a body (preferably a live one).
Todd the Red Sox fan on Fri, 11th Jul 2008 7:10 am
yeah, I agree- there should be a simple rule for this… “No Body- No Space” You need to be there to save a spot. thanks
MM Res on Tue, 2nd Sep 2008 11:13 am
I may be the odd one out. I only attend the parade and the fireworks on the 4th of July and never picnicked at the park because we like to move around. But when I see people reserving and setting up before the big day, I call that good planning. It also avoids loads of traffic on July 4th. But reserving on July 2nd may be a bit too early. I don’t mind sacrificing the use of the park for one day – July 3rd because of the reserved spots that are taped off. But if the tape is not gone and replaced by a canopy by a certain time on July 3rd like at 12 midnight, then they lose their spot. I think it is worth it preparing ahead of time. I feel very happy when I see people set up on July 3rd. It makes me think that Mira Mesa is a nice place to spend the 4th of July.
Fleur de Lis on Mon, 5th Jan 2009 10:55 am
I used to live in New Orleans, where Mardi Gras is a two week long event. One particular parade – Endymion – became a real problem for neighborhood residents for the same reason. People would rope/tape off areas of the median up to a week in advance, leaving lawn chairs, ladders, and even sofas to “hold their spot.” The New Orleans Police came up with a workable solution. A “start time” was established, before which no one was allowed to camp out. After the “start time”, all areas that were roped/taped off MUST have at least one person in attendance. NOPD officers would patrol the area and remove the tape/rope/furniture from any area NOT attended. Having areas ropped off is still not an ideal situation, but their solution prevented a lot of problems. Perhaps SDPD (or whomever needs to be involved) could come up with a similar arrangement before next time.
Mark Smith on Wed, 7th Jan 2009 10:48 am
Great post. I will be looking for you at the 2009 fourth of july day at the park, I will save my spot on the 2nd this year.