A group playing at a park in Lakewood was forced to leave after a woman approached them and said she had rented the portion of the park.
The group was playing paddleball at the park when the woman showed them a letter stating she rented that portion of the park – for $50.
Not believing it, the group continued on, at which point the police were called. And organizer also contacted TLS asking if we knew if this was legitimate or not.
Officers reportedly told the group they were also suspecting it to not be a legitimate letter, but they called a Township official who stated it was. And they made the group leave.
“I didn’t think this was legit – to rent out a court and playground for $50? I think we’ll just rent it every week,” one of the game organizers told TLS.
TLS reached out to Mayor Ray Coles who stated it is possible to rent a portion of a park, and the fee was primarily for cleanups.
Asking if it’s possible for a group to rent it out each week for their games, the Mayor said he would have to find out if there’s any type of limit per person or group, as they want to make sure the parks remain available to as many people as possible.
— The Lakewood Scoop (@LakewoodScoop) July 2, 2023
I have got a bridge in Brooklyn for sale that perhaps she would be interested in.
About a dozen families on the adjoining playground were also asked to leave. It seems that they’re was an error on the license. It should have said Pine Park Picnic Area #2 and instead it’s said Pine Park #2. I hope the township will make sure to license only the picnic area in the future.
A public park should never be rented privately during times of peak public use. Sounds totally ridiculous!!
You need to do something
Brooklyn bridge for sale anyone want to buy??
Sorry, but I don’t buy bridges anymore due to a recent incident that happened to me, when I forked over $300 to purchase the Manhattan bridge.
Shortly after the sale was completed, I invited a group of friends over to the bridge for a picnic and a barbecue. Suddenly I see the seller spray painting graffiti all over the bridge!
“Hey, wait a minute!” I told him. “You sold me this bridge!”
“That’s true,” he said, “I sold you the railing and the water below, but not the road and the pavement.”
“Well, how much do you want for it?” I asked him.
“An additional $300, and it’s all yours,” he told me,” and I won’t even make you sign a contract.”
It was a tempting offer, but I was afraid I’d later find out that some other component of the bridge had been omitted from the sale, so I politely turned down his offer, knowing that at least I still maintained ownwership of both the railing and the water below, while also knowing that some other fellow had recently made me an incredible offer to purchase the entire Empire State Building for half the original price, just $500! That’s right! $500 and the entire skyscraper, including the shiny antenna on top, could be mine within days. That’s a once in a lifetime offer that I’m not about to turn down anytime soon!
P.S. – If you’re reading this comment, please don’t try to push ahead of me and purchase the Empire State Building before I do…..
Oy! Me and my big mouth!
I live OOT and locally the rental permits are posted in the areas germane to the rental. Our park has picnic shelters, gas stove/burners in the shelters and locked freezers in the shelters. The rental fees cover clean up and the additional costs of the locking mechanisms on the fridge/freezers and propane burners.
This is really upsetting. Dozens of Township residents utilize the Paddleball courts in pine park, primarily on Friday and Sunday. For some, it is their only opportunity for recreation an entire week. The parks department is here to provide for the recreation needs of all residents.
It is unfair thar the residents needs are ignored and access to the paddleball courts is denied during the renaissance fair, when the park is rented to a summer camp, and now when an individual takes over the park for $50.
The paddleball courts are not utilized during these rentals, they simply sit empty. The township and parks department have a responsibility to the residents and they should ensure that there is access to the paddleball courts for residents that utilize them if they are going to rent the rest of the park out to special interests.
An avid paddleball player
It has been possible for groups to reserve parts of the local parts of the parks for as long as I can remember.
This was typically used for field trips for schools and camps, but technically can be used by anyone.
Please don’t use this for small groups as that will inconvenience yourself and everyone else involved.
If I recall correctly you had to certify that it was for a group function and not just a private individual looking to have some peace and quiet in the park.
Hope they lower our taxes! Another thing we pay towards and either have to pay extra for or can’t even get use out of! Insane! This should be the next ask your mayor question.
I thought it might be a good idea for all of us to get involved. On day 1 Mr. A rents the park for $50 and he or she will let the entire community use it. On day 2 Mr. B rents the park and lets everyone use it. On day 3 Mr. C rents the park for everyone. We will take turns and everyone will benefit from this arrangement. If you ask a Rav, it might be permitted to use Maaser funds because you are helping out such a wonderful beautiful community.
Really Lakewood Township, they had 15 people in their party and proceeded to throw out every one who came in to the park, in a rather hostile manner, and it was just due to a clerical error?? so they were able to carry on?
what would would happen if i tried that in the country club next door?
When I was growing up we would often rent out space at “Robert E. Lee Park” for our Lag B’omer trip. This made sure we had places to play & have a BBQ.
You can still rent space at $50 for 4 hours so this seems possible.
What?? This is ridiculous!
Rent a whole park for $50? I’ll take it for the month of August!
Taking a look at Lakewood Township ordinance O218-23 (Search for Pine Park Rental on the township website, it’s an entry labeled “Untitled”):
8-10.3(b): “Applications for the use of Pine Park Picnic Areas #1 and #2 etc”
This means: It’s only the picnic areas that are available for rental, the paddleball courts should not have been part of the scene here. Same reference to Picnic Areas #1 and #2 throughout the entire section.
Moving on to an even more important detail:
8:13.1, part b: “Standards for the issuance of a use permit etc. shall include the following findings: 1) That the proposed activity or use of the park will not unreasonably interfere with or detract from the general public enjoyment of the park.”
This means: You can only rent any part of the park if it will not unreasonably prevent people from using the park.
I’d imagine that calling the cops and ejecting dozens of people from the paddleball courts- which are not included in the rental to begin with, as above- is unreasonably preventing people from enjoying the park.
Something doesn’t add up here.
Quit whining – it was a clerical error. Mistakes happen except for the perfect few commenting- most who werent affected but need to comment anyway. Grow up and get a life.