Several years ago I had the privilege of serving on the Saratoga Parks and Recreation Department. Back then the city dealt with matters such as trail issues, landscape projects, acquiring playground equipment for various parks and an occasional problem with dogs in the park. And of course there was the ever-present issue of skateboard ramps and what a devastating impact allowing them would have on property values in Saratoga.

It seems there always has been an element of Saratoga citizens against kids. Little did my fellow commissioners and I realize how lucky we were years ago. Back then we understood that the parks were for public use. Having to deal with a pack of 9-year-old kids and their families conducting harmless and wholesome postseason celebration in a Saratoga city park surely would have overwhelmed us. What a great memory for the 9-year-olds who saw four deputies come to break up their celebration.

I applaud both Rebecca Owens on her excellent letter (" 'Repugnant' event takes place at Kevin Moran," Nov. 23) regarding the frantic 911 calls and the Saratoga News for the "over the top" editorial (Nov. 23).

John A. Saunders

Lomita Avenue

Safety in the park
must be a priority

In deciding how to redevelop Kevin Moran Park, safety should be the number one consideration. We all want the children of Saratoga to have facilities at which to play organized sports. However, the safety of the children, both sports players and neighborhood children, has to be paramount.

There is only one street which provides access to the park, the one street that borders it--Scully Avenue. Although off-street parking is proposed, no plan has yet proposed enough to accommodate all the players and spectators for games and the transition time between games. Parking will spill onto the surrounding surface streets (look at El Quito Park). When cars are parked on both sides of Scully, it is difficult for two cars to safely pass each other, unless the parked cars and the passing cars are all subcompacts. Add to this tight situation the many families (who attend the games) driving SUVs or mini-vans, people opening car doors and equipment being placed in the road waiting to be loaded, and it quickly becomes impossible for through traffic to pass, safe or unsafe.

On top of this, there are no sidewalks, therefore neighbors and people walking and biking to the park will all be forced to go down the middle of the street, amidst all the extra cars, people and traffic. And at one end of the park, Scully makes a sharp turn which creates a blind corner for all drivers, pedestrians and bicycles, which further adds to the danger.

I experienced all of this firsthand when the adult soccer league temporarily moved there. It was frightening. During games, traffic and cars will be saturating the neighborhood streets, with all the arrivals and departures of those associated with those games.

This park needs to be redeveloped as a passive park. Changing this park to accommodate regular soccer games without changing access roads is going to cause serious safety and traffic problems.

Nancy Weller

Scully Avenue

Soccer parents missed
a great opportunity

I read with interest your report on the activity at Kevin Moran Park ("Police called when soccer 'game' breaks out in Kevin Moran Park," Nov. 23). A group of kids in soccer uniforms were picnicking at the park, a local resident called 911 to report a suspected code violation, the police responded with several units, no violation was found, the police left. You reported that "all the little boys were upset ... The parents were furious."

First, if a resident suspects a code violation, it is perfectly acceptable to call the police to complain. That's how our system works.

Second, if the police had enough extra officers to respond with several units, that says we don't have much other serious crime in Saratoga. This is fantastic news. I applaud the Sheriff's Department for their deft handling of this event.

Third, by your account the police politely investigated a citizen report of a code violation and left. Those furious soccer parents need to understand that the police work to keep the peace for us all. Having a local sheriff ask you a few polite questions is nothing to be furious about.

Fourth, if the children were truly upset by this action, I suggest they are upset over their parents' reaction to the police presence. Children should be taught that the police are their friends. When parents become "furious" over the presence of police, this certainly models the wrong behavior.

If your reporting of the incident is accurate, then these parents are clearly in the wrong. They were offered an opportunity to provide their children a model of police-parent interaction. This was one of those rare opportunities to show their children how the police mediate disputes between adults and how the rule of law works.

This could have been a real-life civics lesson for those little boys.

Instead their sons are being offered a very poor example of adults acting like children.

Jim Schrempp

Oak Street

Grades are not archaic;
they're part of a whole

I look forward to more of Joe Di Salvo's education columns. Di Salvo's discussion on report cards ("Report cards are overrated as an indicator of progress," Nov. 23) had apt insights, but a few points did not ring true with me.

Teachers, parents and principals should be comfortable with Fs for students who do not participate or complete any assignments yet ace their tests and quizzes.

In the nonacademic world, we expect people to meet deadlines and complete assignments, even if they find it routine. Society does not highly esteem the lazy genius who lets others down because proving knowledge is inconvenient. An F for such a student sends the right feedback; it says attitude and effort should change.

If a child is under-challenged in a school setting, the parents and educators should question the appropriateness of the curriculum and seek alternatives. We should not throw out report cards because of the exceptional cases.

James Allen

Sunnyvale