As a long-term patron of Chadwick Lake Park and a local parent, I am writing to express my concern regarding the access policy for the new $13 million gym facilities.

My family was excited about the addition of the basketball courts, as they offer a great opportunity for local children to learn and play. However, restricting open court access to just three hours a week—Fridays from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM—makes them completely inaccessible to working parents like me and my 3 year old son who comes here on the weekend.

During a recent visit, my son and I were limited to walking the track while the basketball courts remained completely empty, behind large curtains, polished and glistening like jewel in a glass case that no one could touch. My son peering in confused and distraught. What could I say to him?

I inquired about the restricted hours, the facility director, sitting idle in their office — cited a lack of staff and liability concerns, despite staff being present to monitor the track, watching the elderly make laps. The basketball courts right there in front of them. Do children drive here alone? No, they come here with parents, like me, and it’s parents like me that watch children play in the playground. What’s make the basketball courts any different?

Honestly, it feels like they don’t actually want people to use them which is bizarre given the massive investment. Is this a huge mismanagement is pubic relations, policy or money.. or all of above? 13 million dollars and you can’t afford a staff member to sit here on the weekends? Find a volunteer parent? Print out liability waver for us to sign. Again if we they actually wanted children to use the courts, they would find a way. I would.

I strongly urge the park administration to reconsider the basketball court schedule and expand access to evenings and weekends so that community members and children can fully benefit from this facility. Or find out whom ever made such an unfriendly policy for a community forward park; and fire them.