Ypsilanti Township OKs 1st step in prohibiting street basketball
The Ypsilanti Township Board of Trustees unanimously approved a first reading of an ordinance that would prohibit basketball games in public streets and right-of-way.
The ordinance is the result of the complaints from residents and neighborhood watch groups that groups of kids - and sometimes adults - pull portable basketball hoops to the end of their driveways or lawn extensions. That provides more room to play.
But Mike Radzik, director of the township's office of community standards, said residents are increasingly encountering groups who won’t stop their game and move for motorists, creating a dangerous situation.
"Playing in the street is dangerous," Radzik said. "The traditional parental send-off is not, 'Finish your dinner and go play in the street with the speeding cars and trucks.'
"Portable basketball hoops should be used on private property where kids can play safely out of traffic.
"Year after year, there has been an abundance of neighborhood complaints and no viable solution. We are hopeful this will resolve the issue."
Supervisor Brenda Stumbo said Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Jim Anuszkiewicz recommended the township develop an ordinance because there currently is no good way for officials to order games out of the street.
The Washtenaw County Road Commission has an encroachment policy regarding placing objects near the road that is based on state law, but it doesn’t have the staff to enforce it, Radzik said.
Residents playing basketball in streets, in cul-de-sacs, with hoops on lawn extensions or otherwise in the public right-of-way would be given a warning to pull their hoop back onto private property.
An adhesive notice would be placed on the hoop's pole stating that the hoop had to be moved.
If the hoop is still found to be in the public right-of-way after 24 hours, then it could be confiscated and the owner written a municipal civil infraction.
Municipal civil infraction fines range from $100 to $500, though officials weren't sure what this ticket would cost.
Radzik stressed that the township does not want to confiscate basketball hoops.
“The baseline of the policy is, like everything else, to try to achieve voluntary compliance if at all possible. And if it's not, we take least invasive route to get there,” Radzik said.
Hoops would be stored for 30 days before they were disposed of. The township would likely sell the metal to try to offset some costs.
There was some discussion at the meeting about contracting with a local company to pick up the hoops because summertime is the ordinance department’s busy season and it could take a significant amount of staff time.
Staff initially suggested a $50 fine to go with the civil citation to help cover the township’s costs, but Trustee Stan Eldridge said would prefer contract out responsibilities to avoid placing a greater burden on staff, then pass on the cost to the offenders.
“We may want to look at establishing a higher cost. I don’t want to offset cost, I want to cover the cost,” he said. “I don’t want to pay for people who don’t want to cooperate in the first place.”
Radzik said the problems have been reported in neighborhoods across the township, including Tremont, West Willow, Greene Farms and in neighborhoods off Holmes Road.
Comments
jns131
Wed, Apr 24, 2013 : 2:08 a.m.
Great idea because too many get in the way of cars an get hit. This is like the ball running out in the street. I support this idea immensely.
Rmars
Wed, Apr 24, 2013 : 1:05 a.m.
ypsi twnsp has much bigger issues to deal with as do our police. I would much rather have healthy basketball than kids with nothing to do. Did those who oppose forget their youth?
djacks24
Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 4:55 p.m.
It's sad to see that nowadays that common sense and courtesy needs to be legislated.
icare
Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 3:08 p.m.
Streets are not for playing in. If you want them to play at your home, put the game in your drive way. Parents should not allow thier kids to play in the street. Teaching starts at home.
Robert Granville
Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 2:54 p.m.
Because kids in Ypsilanti have private property to play basketball on coming out of their ears!!!
Bob
Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 2:37 p.m.
Sighhhh. What about roller-blade hockey? This is also popular and, like basketball, is usually harmless. I've actually had to slow down a few times, but that was the extent of the problem. I'm so glad to see youths outside that I just don't see it as a problem. In the few cases where there is disrespect or worse, talk to the parents or, if that doesn't work or isn't an option, call the police. I need to sign off, there's a couple of kids playing catch outside and the ball might go on my lawn . . .
Carrie
Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 1:47 p.m.
On my street in Ypsilanti Twp. a car will pull up in the middle of the street and people will stand and talk to the driver and no one will move when a car pulls up behind. These are adults.
jns131
Wed, Apr 24, 2013 : 2:11 a.m.
I have to agree with Carrie on this one. Same thing as bikers and pedestrians. We all need to respect the rules of the road. In this case playing basketball does not command the same respect as pedestrians and bikers.
djacks24
Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 4:52 p.m.
Problem is, these adults are teaching their kids the same considerations towards others.
lumberg48108
Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 1:55 p.m.
Yes, very tue of Ypsi in general. But also irrelavant to this conversation.
Nicholas Urfe
Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 1:40 p.m.
There are already laws against blocking traffic. Perhaps they could focus more on enforcing existing laws. Those people are playing a game, in a town with few recreation facilities. If there were hoops available, they probably wouldn't be playing in the street. And if they aren't playing a game, what will they be doing instead? Again, there are already laws that cover this.
Life in Ypsi
Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 1:39 p.m.
Why is it every time taking personal responsibility for one's actions, race has to be brought up? This ordinance is not about race. I live in an area where the hops are in the street and yes people do refuse to move out of the way for cars passing through. Add broken glass that's usually in front of the house and trying to not hit anyone while trying to pass and things get stressful. To top it off there's many parents whom see to be okay with their toddlers outside unsupervised and who are frequently by the street or in the street. There are parks with basketball courts in just about every neighborhood in the township. I think if the township would be more proactive in stopping the fights, drinking, drugging and loose dogs in Nancy Park, Sugarbrook park and West Willow kids might be more inclined to go there instead of the streets. Many of us in the township are tired of seeing our neighborhoods go down the tubes. We can't all afford to move to the newer homes on the other side of Ford Lake so we would like to keep our property maintained and live in safe decent neighborhoods.
Robert Granville
Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 3:35 p.m.
I never realized kids playing basketball in the street was a mark of neighborhood decay.
Life in Ypsi
Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 1:41 p.m.
*hoops*
lumberg48108
Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 1:22 p.m.
i would like to see a breakdown of the complaints. Are they centric to one location, driven by one or two groups/complainers? If so, it seems as if the loudest are making policy decisions for those not even aware this is an issue. What if they don't read annarbor.com? The Township does not tell anyone this is happening beyond its meetings, which few attend. This is a typical 2013 over raction response to an issue a few people have. Our sub is off Ford Lake has numerous portable units that are moved in the street and no one has an issue. Radzik's comments "Playing in the street is dangerous," Radzik said. "The traditional parental send-off is not, 'Finish your dinner and go play in the street with the speeding cars and trucks" are self serving. Did he ever play in street? Football? basketball? Hockey? Did he ever see Wayne's World? CAR!!! Speeding cars? Our sub speed limit is 25 MPH. That is plenty of time to recognize a threat and get out of the way. Would these parents rather see their kids locked in doors playing XBOX all day? If there are trouble spots where kids ignore cars, cant they be dealt with on a case by case basis? Why is everything in our society so over reaching these days?
Brad
Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 12:30 p.m.
Why just street basketball? How about street hockey, street whiffleball, street football? The problem isn't basketball, it's people not getting out of the way. So that's what the law should address.
nickcarraweigh
Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 12:04 p.m.
Street sales of all kinds may well suffer if a rigidly enforced ordinance removes potential customers from among the spectators, and losing players take their frustrations to the local liquor store instead.
Bulldog5
Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 12:11 p.m.
?? Be more pejorative so I can understand.
Bulldog5
Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 11:52 a.m.
Well I'm not sure about the race comments. However, as long as it is in a low traffic area (neighborhood) and the game is not impeding traffic (players immediately get out of the way of cars), I see no issue with "playing in the street". I always love it when communities want to keep their youth out of trouble, but develop rules to keep them from playing outside (where they can be seen?!). A court generally has enough room for basketball play and room to drive so those areas in particular should be exempt. Base this enforcement on behavior (not moving) not on the basketball hoops themselves and their locations. OI know this is an easy way to go about it, but this ordinance would discourage a beneficial activity and punish everyone for the behavior of a few.
KateT
Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 11:49 a.m.
Some of my happiest memories are of playing tennis with my father, in the middle of the street, with our free Green Stamps racquets. My neighbor kids play hockey, and I'm glad to see them out moving and socializing. We used to have a basketball court in the adjacent apartment complex, but somebody took that out for some unknown reason. They don't even want people playing in cul-de-sacs! Come on! People paid higher lot prices to have that extra real estate near them. This law is punishing everybody because of a few. I don't like this law at all, and Tom Swift may be right. Let's narrowly tailor the law to the problem. If there is not a law about obstructing traffic in the street (without a permit, etc) , then pass that, and enforce it. It is a sorry day when we need a law for everything, but so be it. Play ball!
Love A2
Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 11:40 a.m.
You are fortunate to have not experienced this problem. We've had various groups of kids playing basketball in different spots in our Ann Arbor neighborhood. These kids are extremely rude and even intimidate drivers when they try to pass in their cars not only by not getting out of the way, but also by standing in the middle of the street and swearing and glaring at drivers, daring them to try to pass. It's not the same as when I was a kid and when we played in the street we would immediately move at the first sight of a car.
glimmertwin
Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 3:52 p.m.
Sounds like you should move to the socialist republic of Ypsilanti where they create ordinances for everything. But a person walking from a broken down car or a jogger in broad daylight aren't safe.
icare
Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 3:17 p.m.
I agree with you. Streets are not for playing in. I shouldn't have to blow my horn for someone to move out of the streets. And I do agree some to these kids are very rude, and they need to be taught respect for others and that starts at home. No games should be played in the streets.
Robert Granville
Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 2:53 p.m.
So how about you grow some self-confidence (ahem) and stand up for yourself. This doesn't happen to me anywhere and I drive through Ypsi, Ann Arbor, and Kalamazoo regularly. It's amazing what you can do with a stern voice, judicious use of the horn and the gas pedal in neutral...
lumberg48108
Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 1:53 p.m.
So because of the actions of kids in a few neighborhoods, kids in other neighborhoods that are not causing issues, should suffer? What amazing logic. You must really want to move towards a nanny state. basketball in the street is not the issue - its kids with no manners and poor parents that are causing the issue - so why punish basketball?
Alan Goldsmith
Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 10:48 a.m.
Ypsilanti Township. Tough on crime. Lol.
tom swift jr.
Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 10:47 a.m.
I would love to see the statistics regarding complaints about this "problem" and how it stacks up in terms of severity as compared to other crimes in Ypsilanti Township. This feels a lot like a "Jim Crow" law.
1982 Brew Crew
Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 12:14 p.m.
Sad. Seeing race in the motivation of officials responsible for ordinance enforcement. I played many thousands of basketball games outdoors in all venues and I'm not black. Basketball is not reserved for black kids. Ypsi is 75% white; how and why do you think only black kids are playing in the streets? And moving past that, what does this initiative create segratation (which is what a Jim Crow law is)?
Jack Gladney
Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 11:48 a.m.
When on earth did respect, common sense and courtesy become matters of race? The time-honored tradition of "CAR!" and someone's kid brother acting as the lookout are lost on a self-consumed generation or two, give or take. Jim Crow? C'mon. To quote the Pink Floyd song Us and Them: "It's only the difference between right and wrong, isn't it? I mean, good manners don't cost nothing now do they, eh?"