Adults without children won’t be allowed at Palm Beach County playgrounds
[FAC NOTE: This is actually a really good policy. Why would ANYONE not having a valid reason to be on a playground, school or daycare have a reason to be there?]
PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — In an effort to increase safety in Palm Beach County, commissioners unanimously approved an amended change to the county’s parks and recreation ordinance.
Officials said the revision will strengthen provisions related to children’s safety on playgrounds at county parks.
Palm Beach County Mayor Robert Weinroth announced this week that the new regulation prohibits adults 18 years or older from entering or remaining in a designated children’s play area unless the adult is supervising and/or accompanying children that are 12 years old or younger.
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Just going by the article “designated children’s play area” dont know i there are signs saying this specific area is it. Or is it up the the police to determine that area. This could cover an entire park. Sounds a little vague. My friends kid is 24 but has downs syndrome. Has the IQ of a 5yo. Could they take her?
Sure it makes more sense than trying to enforce the registry but I’m not in a position to be able to know everyone’s circumstances . They might have a legitimate reason for being in that location. Meeting someone , who knows. More laws means more problems and harassment of innocent people. If there is a law someone will test it to the limit.
As good as this sounds, it promotes that whole stranger danger thing, causing more paranoia that you’re fellow neighbors are possibly a kidnapper, and/or a lurking sex offender! I get the gist of it, but added paranoia to the public is also a bad thing!
Excellent policy, identical to that posted at Centennial Olympic Park playgrounds, among others— it doesn’t matter whether you’re a registrant or not, you need a valid reason to be there, and accepting adults without children is too risky. Incidents DO happen, and FAC is right NOT to advocate for the right of adults to attend playgrounds without children.
I shudder to think that the public may read comments here that state, ‘aw, man, adults should be able to go to playgrounds whenever they want.’ Don’t do it!
So here we are in 2022 and you think this is a good idea? Was there an incident that caused this decision?
Where was this “policy” in 1972, 1982, 1992, 2002, and 2012?
This is yet another case of “Let’s create a problem where there isn’t one. We’ll get a cookie from the frightened locals.”
Maestro,
You are absolutely 100% correct.
Well said.
LOL. I truly hope Florida goes even further off the rails and makes these restrictions virtually universal: No adults attending children’s movies, no unaccompanied adults on any school grounds, no adults that arcades, no adults at circuses and amusement parks! Children Only sections of the beach. Hey, y’know, drowning’s happen. 🦈 It is what it is! In any case, better drowned than touched, right Florida?! 😲🤷🏻♂️)
Not sure how regulating public playgrounds would lead to any of these.
Yeah I can totally see why we would agree with this it is a decent message and they’re not targeting sex offenders which is refreshing however there are two problems. It makes a very dangerous and disturbing assumption that people alone are dangerous or if there’s someone alone at the playground He is assumed to be up to no good. Scary stuff.
Second To the average person such restriction of movement would feel very un-American plus it’s more stranger danger and that’s always a mistake.
I totally agree and IMHO unconstitutional. As a retired senior. I enjoy the outdoors alone . In many areas parks and trails may be lineal and run for miles. Why should I be denied the right of the enjoyment of such places because I choose to be alone or even with another adult. I have always objected to the banishment of registrants simply based on thier status of the registry . It screams unconstitutionality to me. Now to exclude individuals because they are not with children and are adults. just inconceivable.
Barb, I share your enjoyment of parks, trails, and the outdoors. But this is really just about playgrounds.
Centennial Olympic Park, for example, welcomes the public, but posts signs outside two small playgrounds within the park, saying adults shouldn’t be in those playgrounds if they’re not associated with any children there. Which makes sense, because there is nothing for an adult to do there.
@ Rpsabq: When I visit Paris, I have a favorite place to stay that happens to overlook a small local park. It’s known mostly to locals and lots of children go there to play, typically accompanied by an adult. Other adults also visit the park to relax, read a book, meet and chat with friends. I frequently visit the park just to take a break, enjoy the fresh air, do some reading, and listen to the pleasant sounds of children’s laughter and play.
(I am not there with any evil intent. And fortunately, in spite of IML and a marked passport, the French authorities could care less where I go and what I do so long as I do not break any of their laws.)
America/Florida is going far overboard. Who says it won’t be that same daddy or stepdad taking the child to the playground today and molesting that same child in a couple years from now?? 🤷🏻♂️
If all past, present, and future sexual offenders were already on the registry, then such restrictions might make sense. But this playground restriction does very little in the way of actual prevention and instead just panders to the public’s hysteria and misconceptions.
It’s not the individuals currently on the registry that parents most need to worry about – it’s the child’s near relatives, teachers, coaches, music tutors, pastors, youth group and scouting leaders, athletics coaches.
I really do not understand why this is so difficult for the public to understand. 🤷🏻♂️