Climbing up the wrong tree with park proposal

With almost any endeavor there are issues that must be addressed and with recreation it is no different. This week the Operations and Finance Committee approved an ordinance that, if approved by the full commission, would restrict people from climbing trees, shrubs, fountains, art or a monument unless it’s been designated for that purpose.

Let’s stop for a moment. Take a deep breath and look at the other parts of the ordinance before casting the first of many stones. The code also says people must use specific entrances to go in and out of parks, and visitors cannot place poles, stakes or posts into the ground without the county’s permission. That makes sense. Our new parks have underground infrastructure that could be damaged if people start willy-nilly hammering stakes or posts in the ground, and too many people, unfortunately, decide to create their own driveways causing damage to expensive park landscaping. We are spending millions of dollars to get our parks and recreation centers up to snuff and it’s good our Parks and Beautification and Recreation departments want to keep them looking good for many years to come.

The proposed ordinance also states what should not have to be stated — that the department must give permission before anyone leaves animals “including but not limited to cats, ducks, raccoons, opossums, fish and dogs” inside a park. It also goes into where people can and cannot change clothes and where signs and advertising can be posted, but let’s get back to throwing a few stones.

Certainly, the county doesn’t want anybody climbing all over fountains and monuments and artwork. Hopefully with all the new splash parks at the recreation centers that won’t be a scene we would see regularly. We understand for legal liability reasons why the county wants to have the tree climbing caveat in this ordinance, but I hope commissioners understand that trees call out to be climbed. It is wired into the DNA of a young lad or lass to climb trees and there’s no ordinance or resolution that can stop that primal urge.

In this day and age of couchpotatoitis, commissioners might want to make tree climbing mandatory. Just kidding. However, there are people who don’t think this is a laughing matter and they’ve started an online petition to protest the ban.

At least when the commissioners press their buttons to vote or not for this ordinance, they should do so with tongue stuck firmly in cheek. The memory of the first time they climbed a tree should drift in and bring a smile to their faces.

This story was originally published August 11, 2016 at 9:00 PM with the headline "Climbing up the wrong tree with park proposal."