A recent entry in the Mansfield Police Log about kids being asked to stop playing baseball on the street due to a town bylaw, has sparked some debate among Mansfield residents in our comment boards.
Here is what one resident posted, in-part, about their disapproval of the bylaw:
"If its on a busy street I can understand the concern but a side street or less traveled street, I can't... Playing in the street has always been a pass time with friends and neighbors. Street Hockey, baseball, football, basketball, dodgeball, volleyball, soccer, etc all of these include a ball of some sort. We played kick the can, kick the rock, hopscotch, you name it, we played it in the street. What is becoming of us? And we want to know why our kids are becoming obese or anti-social, lazy? This is why..."
Most of the comments on the post agreed with the post, but one Mansfield resident was more supportive of the bylaw:
"I'd like to know more details on this. I've seen kids in my neighborhood toss around the baseball and I'm always concerned about a errant toss hitting my $40,000 car. Were these kids playing on a narrow street where cars are very close? How many times did the ball go on the person's lawn? There are parks for these kids to play at, otherwise move to a house with a bigger lot."
Town Manager Bill Ross said the bylaw has "been in place for many years," pointing out that it, like any town bylaw, "would've been adopted at Town Meeting." Ross views it as a safety concern.
"I don't think kids should be playing in the street where cars are. It's not appropriate," he said, adding that even smaller side streets "are still open to cars?"
What do you think of the street ball bylaw? Put in your two cents in the comments below!
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