Truthfully, there is no reason to be in the parks after dark when the lights are out anyway.. Great idea..

Truthfully, where would you like kids in Cinnaminson to go? Why are we punishing all for the acts of a few?

Cinnaminson's new name-Potterville

Most local parks are open dawn to dusk, so it is not farfetched to implement this policy.

I agree that most of the vandalism and trashing of the parks is done after dark. But I strongly agree with Maria's comment. Where should they go? If the park has lights and they are playing basketball under the lights. What is the harm? I recently spoke to a local police officer who said that he would tell the kids hanging in the parking lots at the parks after dark that as long as they cleaned up after themselves they are fine. I totally agree.

If the issues are occuring after hours or late at night, as stated, what is closing the park early going to do? Allow more time for the offenders to create havoc, all while not allowing our kids to have a place to play.

Closing the parks at dusk will not fix this issue of vandalism..Only punish people who want to use the parks a little later into the evening under the lights-which we taxpayers pay for and would like to see used. We should look to find more resources to help our police catch these vandals instead on turing off the lights earlier.

I can see both sides of this. The kids who just want to play basketball and hang out who do not do anything wrong will be the ones who will suffer. I get that and it is not fair. BUT the vandalism has gotten OUT OF HAND . I live next to Fountain Farms and have called the police when I see kids doing it in BROAD Daylight so what happens after dark is worse I imagine. I have to also say I have seen police presence at the park a lot more in the past 6 months or so then I have before. I think as residents we have to be more aware of thing going on if things do not seem right speak up or call. The police can not be everywhere at once we need to take back our parks to keep them nice. Maybe the kids who DO get caught vandalizing or grossly littering the park be charged with cleaning up the park ...make them do community service. I am not sure what the answer is but I am on the fence about closing the parks early

KIDS SHOULD BE INSIDE PLAYING VIDEO GAMES! GET THEM OFF THE STREET!

We are not talking about ten year olds who will have no place to play. I live next to a township park and the "kids" arrive in cars. Droves of them, every single night that it is nice out. They are loud and disrespectful of the neighborhood in general. And instead of going to the back, in the dark or the woods, they congregate RIGHT UNDERNEATH THE LIGHTS!! Close to my house and close to the street. If they really need someplace to go until 1 or 2 in the morning they should get jobs. I bought a house next to the park because i have little kids. I shouldn't have to worry about what pictures and words we are going to discover every day.

The public hearing will be on Monday,April 16th, not on April 14th.

What is the curfew for our town anyway? Maybe that needs more enforcing.

Thank you Christina. If the lights are kept on for the people to use the parks respectfully and for what they are intended that would be wonderful. I agree Bridget it is a very touchy situation and the police can not be everywhere. Should they patrol the parks? Yes, but they can't be everywhere. We as Cinnaminson residents should be able to use the parks and we should take pride in our community and parks. We should remind people we see throwing trash that it is not acceptable. Is it right that if you are an event or sporting group you are allowed to use the parks after dark but if you are a small group or an individual you can not? Yes some of the "kids" are old enough to drive. But so are the adults who use the park. I am happy to see the older kids at the parks playing basketball rather than hanging somewhere and making trouble.

Again, most area parks have dawn to dusk hours.
Having lived in this town for over 40 years, and having grown up here, I can say that most "kids" (read: teenagers) who are at the parks after dark are drinking or smoking underage, or littering/vandalizing our parks. I was one of those kids once upon a time, and remember being chased out by Cinnaminson Police. Changing park hours isn't going to solve the problem completely, but it will help. And unfortunately, that is the price to pay for us to have nice, clean, safe parks.
The people who are upset that the parks are not open 24/7 need to think about this and consider the greater good.

I understand the time change and why it must occur, I just cannot comprehend what is going through someone's mind when they would doodle and destruct property that the Cinnaminson township has worked so hard to purchase for children to play on. I'm 18 have had this mindset for a long time so i do not understand how others have been raised, its preposterous.

I definately do not feel the parks should be open 24/7. Of course the parks should close,but dark could be anywhere from 5:00-8:00. I agree people do hang in the park and drink and smoke. They should not be allowed to hang in the parks and do illegal things. I agree it is a problem. I am speaking from my son's point of view. One is a working college student and he and his friends do use the basketball courts, (usually at Wood) to play basketball amost everyday. The other is a student at the middle school and also uses the courts regularly with his friends
and they are both often there till 7:00 but have been known to play till as late as 9:00. I TOTALLY AGREE that vandalism and illegal activity is a problem. I think it is sad that my children and others like them will have to suffer because of children and adults (because I have seen MANY adults/parents who throw their trash) who do not respect our community. I feel more parent participation in the community and schools reflect a better respect for our community.

the solution to this problem is simple, we just need to build expensive sleding hill, since we have gotten so much snow lately

I just heard them talking about this kid they caught slashing tires in Philly....when asked why he did it....answer was ..."I did it for fun" ...and now there saying copy cat slashers!...these kids just don't have any proper values and are just so complacent with no idea of what respect is....no guidance, no direction, no future....so they take it out on every inanimate object that can't fight back. welcome to the future.

Bruce, you're one funny guy yourself. Think that stage is a two-seater if you want one for yourself.

yeah baby let's roll! LOL

by the way Vince, do you know what is available at the community center for kids to do and what hours can kids have access?

What would you do in the park, in the park well after dark?
Do what we say, you will not play, this park is only for the day.
No nighttime fun for kids, you see, stay at home, and watch tv!
Don't let us catch you, in our park, not in our park, not after dark!
We pay our cops to drive on by, and document, oh my oh my.
Not once, not twice, not three, but four! The Mayor said, this is your tour.
You catch those kids, they made a mess, torture them, til they confess.
This park is not for kids you see, it's photo opportunity,
New bathroom and concession stand, it only cost a couple grand.
We don't care what you all think, we will not fix that hockey rink.
We will build a giant hill, one giant hill, one giant bill.
And on this hill, the snow will fall, but not this year, no snow at all.
A snow machine is what we need, we must make this hill succeed.
Is there any money left? We'll tax some more, it's just like theft!
We'll put some lights up on the hill, this will make it better still.
We'll turn them off when it gets dark, when it gets dark, inside the park.
So, don't get caught, and don't you stay, it's after dark, you cannot play!
What would you do in the park, in the park well after dark?

I think the problem in this town lies more so in the self righteous people who comment on this blog rather than the children who get blamed for the people of Camden and other neighboring towns known for crime using our parks.

Wow, I didn't check in with patch for awhile and this blog went haywire. The Community Center? Really? Can they join in on the senior activities there? Kids sometimes just like to hang with their friends; whether it be a parking lot, playground, corner, strip mall,etc.... I did it as a kid, I didn't vandalize anything. It's what kids do. They are not all bad, they don't all vandalize. Again punishing all for the actions of few. Perhaps if they actually had someplace in town to gather.....

I do not see how turning the lights any earlier is going to prevent vandalism. Which is more than likely happening in the late hours of the evening and the article indicates that. I grew up in Cinnaminson and spent many, many nights at Wood Park and I never vandalized or put graffiti anywhere. I think you are always going to have that element doing the damage, and lights out it is not going to stop it. The only thing that will is the Police force. And they can not catch everyone, but they can certainly keep up easier if it is clearly lit all the time.

Hey here's an Idea! Why don't you hire somebody to clean the Bathroom and right that crooked bush with all the money you get from me and the millions you get from my Federal taxes that are funneled back to Cinnaminson in the form of "PARK Improvements" (joke, that all that money is spent).

I don't know what world you grew up in Sarah saying "When I was a kid in the 70's the rule was home when the street lights are out" But in the 70's I was outside 90% of the time. There was no cable or xbox or computers to suck your childhood from you, you had to get up off your ass and find it. Its a shame my generation has become such wimps that they forget what it's like to be a kid.

Lock them all up and medicate them with Ritalin. Them damm kids! I hope they come hang on your corner since there is nowhere for them to go now!

Do I understand it correctly that if the lights are on at the park, the park is open for business? I can't tell you how many times I have driven past Wood Park late at night to see the lights over the flelds blazing with nobody using the fields for anything. We would seem to be using a whole lot of electricity for nothing, unless of course those lights mean that the park is open so kids can use the basketball court. Please clarify this...
Of course there are other places for kids to play basketball. On Yellowstone Rd and Shenandoah Rd there are at least 3 basketball hoops standing in the street. This is not a safe place for kids to play because of the many parked cars and other cars that unfortunately try to drive down the streets. With cars parked both sides of the streets there is only space for one-way traffic, and when you mix that with children running in and out from between parked cars, this is truly an accident waiting to happen.

The new jungle gym at fountain farms has graffiti on it already ...the kids can not even play on it yet ...and I believe it happened in daylight FYI

what about the kid that vandalizes early on a sunday morning when no one is around? the point is raise your kids to not be vandals.

to all that posted before me, have any of you discussed this issue with your kids? i doubt it. as an older resident i resent being told i can't take a walk in the park even at night.

either raise your kids right or remove the parks.