How parks with sports facilities can serve the public and keep the peace
Conventional wisdom dictates that good fences make good neighbors, but when it comes to sports facilities (e.g., courts, fields, pathways, and the like), the issue is more complex. And for sports venues in parks, which are often in the middle of urban or suburban centers, the concept of being a good neighbor gains even more importance.
“Each facility has a responsibility to be a good neighbor and to minimize negative situations for adjacent neighborhoods,” says Mike Munie of Perfect Playfields and Links, LLC in Belleville, Ill. “Most neighborhoods around athletic facilities have a mixture of people; some are excited at the prospect of living very close to a venue, and some are irritated to varying levels by the events and the crowds.”
So, how can park management mitigate sources of complaints as much as possible?