I guess everyone has to deal with soccer players. They tie up Buder Park with large tournaments from time to time. Frequently we have to deal with attempts to turn the model airplane sights into ball diamonds and soccer parks because there will be some parent that likes that location because it is convenient for him/her to see/coach their kid's soccer team. We have letter writing campaigns that remind everyone that there are LOTS of other parks to play soccer on, and only ONE model airplane field. There was a letter to the editor of the local newspaper by a guy that went to Buder, a known model airplane sight, to walk his dog and complained about the noise. Never mind that there are 5 other parks within 5 minutes driving time that are actually better parks for walking and hiking, but maybe they were an inconvenience to him. In talking about the situation with a Park Ranger once, I pointed out a group of kids practicing soccer, and told him I would guarantee that about half of those kids didn't want to be there, some would be interested in what I was doing and you could tell by the rubber necking going on, and they were only participating because their parents made them do it. I told him I had been flying models at Buder Park since 1975, and I would challenge him to go find ANY soccer player that was a second or third generation user of the park. Once the kids play a year or three, they move on to something else. Back in my R/C sailplane days, I was flying at another local park and getting some good lift and long flights. The kids baseball team that was playing/practicing at the next ball diamond was having a hard time concentrating on what they were doing, so the coach came over to me and told me to "bring that thing down so it doesn't distract the kids!" And I wasn't even making any noise!!!
So I politely explained to him that I was a resident of the city, had a right and permission to fly there, and that I couldn't help it if what I was doing was more fun that what he was doing! It's an ongoing battle. Always some parent that thinks they have a little political pull or influence and push you around, the after a few years they are gone and another one takes their place. It's one of those things that always made Pogo say, "Hoooo Boy!"
Type at you later,
Dan McEntee