Editorial: Reopen city parks to all ages

Sunday, Dec. 5, 1999 | 10:02 a.m.

In July the Las Vegas City Council converted three public parks into so-called "children's parks." Ethel Pearson, James Gay and Fitzgerald Tot Lot parks, all in West Las Vegas, now can be used only by children who are accompanied by a parent or guardian. The City Council said it approved the restrictions after area residents said they were afraid to use these parks, citing illegal drug selling and homeless men drinking alcohol.

Everyone agrees that parks should be free of drugs and alcohol, making them safe for children, but the City Council's decision was wrong. Discriminatory policies such as these are offensive, treating the homeless as second-class citizens. If there was a problem with people breaking the law, then the city marshals should have cited the offenders and removed them from the parks, creating an area safe for all residents.

As has been pointed out before, this issue is more than just about those who happen to be homeless. Under this ridiculous policy even a grandparent with his grandchild can't visit the park, unless he is the child's guardian. In addition, teenagers can't use the parks either, forcing them to go to parks far from their homes to find recreation.

After homeless advocates and the Nevada chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union lodged their complaints, including threats of a lawsuit to overturn the City Council's decision, the city agreed to not enforce the ordinance immediately. But Catholic Worker, a group that has been helping feed the homeless in Ethel Pearson park for nine years with the city's blessing, said it was told by city marshals in September that it could no longer serve its breakfast meals there because the city was enforcing the resolution.

The Southern Nevada Homeless Coalition has been inspecting the parks regularly and found that the parks are virtually deserted. The irony of the City Council's stated goal to bring more children to the parks instead has resulted in a situation where parks are going unused, which also is a terrible waste of taxpayer dollars.

Before Wednesday's City Council meeting last week, homeless advocates held a peaceful protest outside City Hall; they then restated their opposition during the public comment portion of the City Council meeting. Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman asked the advocates to contact the city staff and set up a meeting to discuss their concerns. While it is encouraging to see the mayor willing to establish a dialogue, it is difficult to imagine how a compromise could be reached. It wouldn't be right to have anything less than full access to public parks for all law-abiding Las Vegans.

Even in this holiday season, trashing the homeless seems to be in vogue. For instance, New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani has ordered police there to arrest those who are sleeping on city sidewalks, making it a crime to be homeless. The city of Las Vegas' policy may not be as harsh as Giuliani's, but it still is offensive. The City Council should rescind this discriminatory ordinance and reopen these three parks for residents of all ages.