| Author | Message | ||
     ril Citizen Username: Ril Post Number: 346 Registered: 6-2001 |
A very large group of teens seemed to get pretty out of control last evening. An officer described it as "an unauthorized prom event." Was the SO prom last night? Kids started gathering around 6pm, and soon there were waaay too many people in the park (for those who run or walk or take little kids there). I left at that point, and the shouting and sirens began soon after, and continued for several hours. Anyone know what that was all about? | ||
| cmontyburns Citizen Username: Cmontyburns Post Number: 941 Registered: 12-2003  |
I was there, and just noticed kids screwing around and laughing. If there was shouting (or any violence) it must have happened after I left. | ||
| Pizzaz Citizen Username: Pizzaz Post Number: 1954 Registered: 11-2001  |
CHS Prom night. Authorization by the BoT was given for a picture taking location for the graduates. There were tons of cars all around. I'm sure a good number of parents were in the park as well. I'm surprised to hear that the officer said it was unauthorized? | ||
| Mrs T Citizen Username: Netjack Post Number: 158 Registered: 12-2004 |
This happened last year too. It was a zoo out there, I happen to live on the park. It was somewhat better than last year, but still lacked police direction. Cars were double parked, and the street became one way, with cars trying to go BOTH ways. I think they could find a better site, with more access and parking. Oh, and NO WARNING to the residents. | ||
| Bob K Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 8813 Registered: 5-2001 |
It is a long standing tradition that on Prom Night limo loads of kids show up at Grove Park for pictures and to "see and be seen". Given the fact everyone is dressed to the nines I doubt if there was any violence, although being eighteen or so the noise is pretty loud. Given groups rent stretcccchhhh limos (last year I was especially in awe of the Hummer limos  ) traffic becomes a nightmare. I guess another tradition here is about to bite the dust. | ||
| noracoombs Citizen Username: Noracoombs Post Number: 84 Registered: 8-2002 |
Isn't this an annual thing? Actually, it's a really nice event--entire families gather to send the kids off to the prom, and it's a lot of fun to go over and see what everyone's wearing. Tho I agree that traffic needs to be more organized. | ||
| Old and Gray Citizen Username: Pastmyprime Post Number: 130 Registered: 2-2005 |
Maybe if people could actually respect the police and our traffic laws, and properly park; there wouldn't have been such an issue, but like most area residents are unwilling to park legally and walk...then you have 100 - 150 cars "just parking for a second" blocking traffic during evening rush hour on a very busy cut through street...HOW ABOUT THIS CHS, contact the police and ask for their assistance in coordinating this NEXT TIME! On the other hand...I have a feeling it wasn't just CHS and probably was promgoers from other area towns that don't have any picturesque locations for prom pics. But still See above comments regarding this. I cannot tell you what an absolute annoyance it is too see people double park, but then also see open parking spaces within less then 100 feet. It happens down town all the time. | ||
| Brett Weir Citizen Username: Brett_weir Post Number: 659 Registered: 4-2004 |
It happens every year and nobody tells the police or residents in advance. It's great for the kids, but they clog up the streets during rush hour and the cops have to close streets on-the-fly rather than having time to prepare. I put this one on the High School- have a little courtesy and let us know it's coming. The kids should enjoy themselves, but there is plenty of park, and no reason to gather in the street. | ||
| cmontyburns Citizen Username: Cmontyburns Post Number: 946 Registered: 12-2003 |
Old and Gray, were you ever a teenager? It was in a public park, occupied at most 1/4 of the park, was nowhere near the area where kids play, and the roads on either side of Grove Park are not exactly interstates. It goes on for a couple hours on an afternoon once a year. Also, there were at least 4 police cars there that I saw, so there clearly was a police presence. The cops I saw were leaning on their cars and smiling -- not exactly on high alert for something bad going on. There were also plenty of adults milling about. (I didn't see picture taking, though... I actually thought maybe it was a giant picnic. Except then I remembered that picnics aren't allowed in Grove park. Nor are dogs, or loitering, or unattended children, or playing games. Basically if you're a petless adult on a full stomach who keeps moving at all times, it's a perfect park.) Note that this thread started with someone worrying about a large crowd that seemed "out of control," followed by police sirens (I live close by, and heard none, by the way). I can't help but feel like this is a knee-jerk reaction any time folks around here see kids gathered in any significant numbers. Fear is a powerful thing. If you wonder what's going on, walk up and ask someone. If they pull a gun on you, I'll be the first to join the TAKE BACK THE TOWN crowd. But at least give yourself the chance to be pleasantly surprised with the response you may get. | ||
| Montrose13 Citizen Username: Montrose13 Post Number: 1 Registered: 8-2004 |
I doubt it was unauthorized given that the SOPD was there and the officers were doing the best they could with the cars and the crowds. Nonetheless, the event is CHS's Senior Prom Showcase. It's inconvenient for the residents who live on the park but really--it's once a year, it's for the kids and it's not that bad. It was great to see all the kids decked out. | ||
| ril Citizen Username: Ril Post Number: 347 Registered: 6-2001 |
I called the police non-emergency number to ask what was going on and was told the gathering was "an unauthorized prom event." I saw only one police car initially; more arrived later. The crowd, while not violent, was unruly. The large number of people made it impossible for the regular walkers/runners to get by. There seemed to me to be insufficient adult supervision (especially if this was a CHS-endorsed event) for this many kids, who were blocking the street as well as the park paths. I saw relatively few dressed in prom outfits; most seemed to be there to hang out. Since is an annual event, it should be more organized, and notice given to residents and police. | ||
| mjc Citizen Username: Mjc Post Number: 707 Registered: 10-2004 |
Sounds fairly tame, and short, and infrequent (not too mention the bittersweet joy of seeing the young people all dressed up, ready to move on). Seems to me that people living near parks probably moved in when the park was already there, and realize that parks are sometimes used for public events (or wedding pix, etc.). Try living near Floods Hill, as we do, where there's pretty much no parking the entire Memorial Day weekend due to the huge soccer tournament, likewise Wednesday evenings in July (concerts in the park) and 4th of July. Benefits of the park make it worth it to us, and presumably to those who live across from Grove Park, too, or why would they be living there? | ||
| susan1014 Supporter Username: Susan1014 Post Number: 715 Registered: 3-2002 |
Well said MJC. Parks are not private front yards, are the appropriate locations for occasional large events in town. Obviously events should be managed as well as possible, but it sounds like no big deal to me (unless you are scared of our local high school students). | ||
| Two Sense Citizen Username: Twosense Post Number: 229 Registered: 7-2004 |
The complaining residents from Grove Park, especially ril, need to GET A LIFE! Prom night is a wonderful experience for kids and parents, and that fact that students historically flock to Grove Park for photos and to see each other is wonderful. If you're a troubled resident, either go elsewhere for an hour or sell your house. But, if you sell, don't forget to disclose to buyers that their park will be used one hour every year by parents and their kids from outside the neighborhood. | ||
| silkcity Citizen Username: Silkcity Post Number: 325 Registered: 5-2001 |
I love the prom night photo op and I actually walk my kids over every year to ooh and ahh. I thought it was pretty orderly, esp since the kids and parents all have somewhere else to go at the end of an hour. Is it customary for residents near a park to be notified before its use? That seems like a very poor use of our resources if we're talking mail or phone calls. I think the fact that it's a park might qualify as notification that there will be events, right? | ||
| SoOrLady Citizen Username: Soorlady Post Number: 2257 Registered: 9-2003 |
Sounds lovely - they didn't do this when my kids were at Columbia (10+ years ago). In those days, whoever was in 1 or 2 limos met at 1 person's house (parents & all) for snacks & drinks and photo ops. If this event has become a yearly occurance, someone in Columbia should step up and do the proper notifications to the residents, police & fire depts. & hire off-duty officers to handle traffic. | ||
| ril Citizen Username: Ril Post Number: 348 Registered: 6-2001 |
Two Sense, your hostility is unjustified. In my initial post, I asked for information re what was going on (I don't have children in the high school, and have no way to know when prom is or what local events might be related to it). At the time I left the park, there were no people in prom attire visible, just a large crowd of teens in the street and in the park. In my second post, once I had more information from other posters, I simply said that I believe the event needed more adult supervision. I agree that parks are for the people, and Grove Park is a lovely place to take photos. It's fine with me that CHS students (or whoever) want to use the park, but shouldn't they respect it as well? This was a large group that required a substantial police presence, stayed for about 3 hours (until dark, when the park officially closes), and left behind trash, wrappers and bottles. Maybe next time they'll do better. | ||
| Matt Foley Citizen Username: Mattfoley Post Number: 267 Registered: 6-2004  |
It is an annual event. I believe Grove Park is chosen due to it's proximity to some student's addresses in Vailsburg. | ||
| arizona Citizen Username: Arizona Post Number: 156 Registered: 2-2004 |
All of you complainers: Last night was, as you already know the CHS prom. I was there with my wife and many friends watching our seniors have a great time. I was there from beginning to end and saw nothing worth anything but celebration. This was an opportunity for the kids and families in our communities to enjoy watching the students dressed to the nines congregate for pictures and fun before boarding their limos for the prom itself. Hosting positive events for these kids is great. The police officers I spoke with seemed to actually be entertained by the event as well as providing the necessary crowd and traffic control. This was a wonderful event. If you didn't like it don't go near it next year. It is time to acknowledge some of the good things that go on around here. | ||
| Brett Weir Citizen Username: Brett_weir Post Number: 661 Registered: 4-2004 |
Arizona- I spoke to the cops there, too, and they did enjoy it. What they did NOT enjoy was that nobody from the school or the Village gave them any notice so that they wouldn't have to run around at the last minute throwing up barricades and addressing the traffic/ pedestrian flows that were out of hand before the police knew it was happening. This is a great event, but it doesn't entitle the CHS crowd to monopolize Grove Rd. to the prohibition of residents reaching their houses. As I said above, there is plenty of room in the park itself; half of last night's crowd just milled around in the street like cattle. Did anybody learn about civility or common courtesy in their four years at Columbia, or have these concepts gone out of vogue? |
