As college students, we’re often criticized for roaming rampant, belligerent and usually underage, around Allston late at night. We’re almost expected to be hung over at breakfast in West Campus on Sunday morning, and we’re nearly always accused of whatever graffiti and/or destruction has taken place over the weekend in and around campus. We accept this. But more ridiculous is that we are told to stop playing Frisbee on a Saturday afternoon in Brookline because we don’t have a permit to do so.
Amory Park in Brookline, just across Commonwealth Avenue from the College of Fine Arts, has recently installed new signs enforcing their “no organized events without permits,” a rule that has, apparently, been in place for 10 years.
The Brookline Parks Department plan to reinforce the rule because, they claim, damage could be done to the park. But, for $40, a two-hour permit can be obtained, apparently allowing for its destruction.
Boston University is known for its lack of campus. Students who wish to play Frisbee are limited to the BU Beach and Nickerson, if they’re available. Signs posted on the fence of Amory Park are not going to prevent students, on the first nice weekend of the year, from taking advantage of the outdoors during the daylight hours. Brookline should, instead, focus on crime prevention in the community, enforcing safety rules and other issues that are hard to argue with.
Plus, the Parks Department have left no clarification. Honestly, define “organized event.” Is it a group of kids under the age of 5 playing tag? A group of college students playing Wiffle ball? Or maybe a 30-person barbeque, complete with a fire-pit and a keg? Clearly, some events require permits over others, but without the consequences clearly outlined, the enforcement of this is cumbersome and a waste of resources for the police.
Not to mention, the idea of going and ordering a permit to play Frisbee or Wiffle ball, or any other pick up sport, is ludicrous. And the $40 fee for only two hours? What college student is willing to do that, or has the time and money? Isn’t the whole idea behind a pick-up game is that it’s fun and free? Brookline needs to get a reality check and enjoy the nice weather like the rest of us.
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