9.10.2008

moms vs. park punks

At the beginning of the summer, THEY were few in numbers... maybe 4 teenage boys. They sit around the picnic table at the park. Their leader, known to me as "Josh," often wears denim overalls without a shirt on. He is a pretty . . . portly fellow, has a big head with an ashy brown fro on top, and often wears sunglasses... real dorky ones. The other three are younger, scrawny looking boys. Recently, their numbers have grown to about 15 (including 3 girls). They are always at the park... all day in the summer... and now come right after school until who knows what hour at night. "They" are the park punks.

Grievances:
They light bottle rockets off of the picnic table, empty out the trash cans onto the ground, and if there isn't any trash in the cans, they bring their own in to share. They light the picnic tables on fire, smoke joints in front of our kids, and take turns recklessly driving a motor scooter in and out of the park path. They harass my tall blond friend for a light up, and they say the F word among other obscenities around the kids.


Other annoyances which may not be considered significant misbehaviors:
They sit and stare at us, which kind of freaks us all out. There is a nice forested area with a winding paved path behind the picnic tables that the children like to run around in, but we don't feel like we can let our kids run around back there because the rascals are so close. I don't feel like I can take my kids and just relax at the park.


What my friends say we should do about it:
Jen (a mom) and Josh (lead rascal) have a history. She's talked to him several times about picking up the trash he throws around and has called the police a time or two. After I confronted Josh one day about hammering a screw driver into the picnic table, he asked how I knew his name. When I told him Jen told me he asked, "What is she like the "Highland Village Neighborhood Watch?" to which I responded "YES." Jen thinks that the reason their numbers have grown and are doing what they are doing is because no person is saying anything about it. She thinks that we moms need to let them know we don't like their misbehavior, and that we are willing to "call them on it". She thinks that if all of us stand up and say something that they will eventually stop.

My-latin-girl-with-all-the-attitude says: "See, it's because all their mom's work." Which I don't agree with completely, but obviously the parents don't know what is going on because the rascals are spending more time at the park than at home. Her idea is to get her brother-in-law's gun, "stick it in [her] pants, and one day lift [her] shirt just enough for them to see it and tell them to get outta here. And when they tell the cops that [she] threatened them, who will they believe? Punk "bleep" kids, or [her], the beautiful mother of two?" This friend of mine is hilarious and really isn't a home-girl like this statement sounds.

What can we really do about it?
Really,
will the cops do anything about it? I know there has been several phone calls by me and others, but I have never seen them come by. I love this park, it is beautiful and has a lot of nice amenities (bball court, walking path, wooded area, soccer field, playground), but seriously, these hoodlums are starting to take over. I'd like to say that even if the punks stopped all the significantly bad behavior that I would be fine with them being there, but I really wouldn't. They are just weird enough that I feel uneasy with their very presence.

Matthias totally gets teenagers more than I do. He interacts with them better, can joke around with them, they like him. I on the other hand, don't really know how to be cool with them, and don't really get them. In my frustration, I asked Matthias what fulfillment are they getting out of emptying the garbage cans daily? He asked me, "Why did I throw water balloons at cars?" I get that. Because it was fun. I still don't get the trash thing though. The rascals are the ones that have to stand in it.

I agree with Jen in that if we stand by and just watch it happen, that it will become a park that children won't go to anymore. So I am asking you, my readers, what do you think my (our) responsibility is? What do you think we should do? What do you think we should not do? Does anybody have any experience battling something similar?

12 comments:

Shawny said...

I've seen them there, at least some of them, but they have never done anything that I would consider calling the cops on. I'm probably not there at the right time. On a few occasions I've asked them to stop swearing, and they do stop. I agree, however, that they are there way too much. It can be a little disconcerting especially if you are there alone with your kids. I guess I just look mean, so they don't dump trash or do stupid stuff when I'm there! That being said, I'd be happy to get involved with the "Moms Against Park Punks" (MAPPs) initiative. Just let me know the next step.

Crystal said...

What if you organized something in your community. Could you out number them? Maybe a bunch of moms, kids, old grandmas, any one you could get.... then arrive before school gets out and fill as many tables as you can with families. I don't know if that is realistic, but show them that your park is a family place and an asset to the community.

Brad and Marci said...

I don't get teenagers either, rather I get them but I can't enjoy them. Those "Park Punks" are by far worse than my image of teenagers. Unfortunately, our rascals watch EVERYTHING people do and most likely they will them immitate. What to do, what to do? Does giving their actions attention seems like what they want or do they want someone to step up and teach them why what they are doing is not appreciated? Maybe if you told them that the little kids shouldn't have to see behavior like theirs and ask them as long as little kids are around to be little more on the not-so-annoying side!? Looking back I really hope I didn't think it was "cool" to hang around toddler spots. I sure hope I can stand my own kids when they are teenagers being annoying.

Hope said...

I like our neighborhood coalition! I am pretty sure we even have an officer assigned to the group.... Officer Mitchell (maybe that's his name) I'm all about reclaiming our park. I don't know if you have noticed but it's moving more and more towards the play structure with obscene grafity and pictures. The coalition is spreading to those living in the homes on the other side of the park too. Jen's great at telling everyone that uses the park. Isn't it great when communities come together!

Papa said...

Join a local gang, have someone rub out Josh or at least break his knee caps!

Chris said...

Wow, I can't believe you didn't consult my wisdom earlier. the solution is simple, really. you need a gang of your own. I've started many gangs in my time as a teenager, so i'll break it down for you into easy steps...
Step 1: Think of a cool name for the all-mom gang you will need to form. Make sure to make it sound very threatening and scary. Like "B-Town Mizzoms", "Highland Babys-Mamas" or something like that.
Step 2: Pick a gang color. No pinks or lavenders. I'm talking black like a ninja...
Step 3: You'll need to "jump" the other Moms into your gang, otherwise they wont be committed to the cause. IE: Once in the gang, you're in the gang for life. The more painful the better. I prefer Indian-Burns or Titty-Twisters. (Shudder)
Step 4: Make yourself the alpha-female. I don't know who this "Jen" is, but it sounds like she will be eying the authority, so I would take her down first, as an example of course.
Step 5: Once the gang is formed, you all need to go down to your local Costco and buy paintball guns. Get them in bulk for deep discounts.
Step 6: Facepaint
Step 7: Dress in black, head to toe
Step 8: Wait. Ninjas always wait for the best opportunities. If they are in numbers fewer than 10, repeat step 6.
Step 9: Once all 15 are there, unleash a doomsday of paintballs upon the little shits. Make sure to have some gang members flank them from behind so that you cut off their escape route.
Step 10: Have Josh pinned up against some playground equipment and surround him. On your order, you all must shoot him in the genitals for al long as your ammo lasts. Then (this part is very important) while he is shaking and crying on the ground and says "Why? WHY??" you remove your mask and say "YOU KNOW WHY!"
Other than that, I think you can get rid of the problem easily. Let me know if I can help some more...

ads said...

Rod Hog says:
What Chris is saying is defined as a version of "junk punch him in his man business." GO GIRLS ! ! !

ads said...

All I can say is, I apologize for your father and brother. Where did I go wrong? - such violence. My opinion? Their suggestions would definitely take care of those pesky "park punks."

My Many Coloured Days said...

You should seriously be a newsreporter... this was good! And I am DYING over Chris's suggestions... oh my! I guess they are annoying, but I haven't had too many problems with them. They move willingly when there are parties or picnics to be held in their "spot" and I always make eye contact with them and walk by them on the way to the park. I think because I've seen them grow up the last several years they don't seem scary to me, just desparate for something to do and pretty lame actually! I keep wondering if any of them are going to get jobs and then Josh, is it, could get a shirt and a haircut!!! That being said, I have seen cops cruise the park and ask a few of us Moms if we have been bothered by them... let me know what your "plan" is! I'd love to be a ninja!

Amelia said...

Whoa! I think speaking directly to the offenders is the best solution, but not always the easiest. Would they run football games for little kids (under strict supervision)? Do you have a local branch of Big Brothers/Big Sisters that could get involved with some of them? I'm all about the positive intervention if it can be achieved! You'll have to update when something occurs.

Sus said...

yikes, I am so conflict averse that i got all worked up about a neighbor asking us to move a brush pile the other day. punks are not my forte. where is the park? what a shame.

Jennifer said...

So, I'm totally LOVING Chris!

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