Comments on: Doug’s Rant on Saving Spots at the Rec Center http://www.miramesa.com/dougs-rant-on-saving-spots-at-the-rec-center/ Mira Mesa Community Website Wed, 02 Mar 2011 14:59:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Mark Smith http://www.miramesa.com/dougs-rant-on-saving-spots-at-the-rec-center/comment-page-1/#comment-408 Mark Smith Wed, 07 Jan 2009 18:48:57 +0000 http://www.miramesa.com/?p=152#comment-408 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. 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.

]]> By: Fleur de Lis http://www.miramesa.com/dougs-rant-on-saving-spots-at-the-rec-center/comment-page-1/#comment-406 Fleur de Lis Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:55:01 +0000 http://www.miramesa.com/?p=152#comment-406 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. 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.

]]> By: MM Res http://www.miramesa.com/dougs-rant-on-saving-spots-at-the-rec-center/comment-page-1/#comment-135 MM Res Tue, 02 Sep 2008 19:13:58 +0000 http://www.miramesa.com/?p=152#comment-135 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. 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.

]]> By: Todd the Red Sox fan http://www.miramesa.com/dougs-rant-on-saving-spots-at-the-rec-center/comment-page-1/#comment-91 Todd the Red Sox fan Fri, 11 Jul 2008 15:10:39 +0000 http://www.miramesa.com/?p=152#comment-91 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 :) 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 :)

]]> By: Shawna http://www.miramesa.com/dougs-rant-on-saving-spots-at-the-rec-center/comment-page-1/#comment-87 Shawna Tue, 08 Jul 2008 18:48:36 +0000 http://www.miramesa.com/?p=152#comment-87 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). 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).

]]> By: Jennifer O'Connell http://www.miramesa.com/dougs-rant-on-saving-spots-at-the-rec-center/comment-page-1/#comment-86 Jennifer O'Connell Mon, 07 Jul 2008 23:38:10 +0000 http://www.miramesa.com/?p=152#comment-86 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... 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…

]]> By: Ricardo http://www.miramesa.com/dougs-rant-on-saving-spots-at-the-rec-center/comment-page-1/#comment-84 Ricardo Mon, 07 Jul 2008 19:21:19 +0000 http://www.miramesa.com/?p=152#comment-84 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. 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.

]]> By: charlene http://www.miramesa.com/dougs-rant-on-saving-spots-at-the-rec-center/comment-page-1/#comment-83 charlene Mon, 07 Jul 2008 18:23:40 +0000 http://www.miramesa.com/?p=152#comment-83 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. 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.

]]> By: Doug Dillard http://www.miramesa.com/dougs-rant-on-saving-spots-at-the-rec-center/comment-page-1/#comment-82 Doug Dillard Sun, 06 Jul 2008 17:22:27 +0000 http://www.miramesa.com/?p=152#comment-82 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. 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.

]]> By: Sandy S http://www.miramesa.com/dougs-rant-on-saving-spots-at-the-rec-center/comment-page-1/#comment-81 Sandy S Sun, 06 Jul 2008 16:56:27 +0000 http://www.miramesa.com/?p=152#comment-81 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, 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.

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