FOREST PARK - School's out and young boys and girls are hauling portable basketball hoops into quiet, residential streets to shoot hoops for hours on end. The public safety hazard has prompted city officials to draft a proposed city code amendment that would dampen their fun while ensuring their safety.

        To be discussed at today's council session, the proposed ordinance bans property owners from putting portable basketball hoops, skate ramps, soccer nets and other recreational equipment in the middle of public streets and sidewalks.

        Violators - and in most cases, the violators' parents - will be told to remove the equipment from the public's right-of-way within 24 hours. If they disregard the warning, they are likely to be charged with a minor misdemeanor and fined up to $100 in Forest Park Mayor's Court.

        City administrators wanted to set parameters that would hold weight in a courtroom. They began working on the proposed legislation about the same time that summer officially began and concerned residents started calling about the number of children playing sports in the middle of quiet neighborhood and cul-de-sac streets.

        “Before you know it, you might have 30 kids playing basketball or setting up skateboard” ramps, City Manager Ray Hodges said. “We don't want to do something that restricts kids from having fun. At the same time, we have great parks in Forest Park and most are in reasonable walking distance.”

        Monday's session at City Hall, 1201 W. Kemper Road, will merely involve a first reading of the proposed ordinance. Council members aren't expected to vote on the matter until September.

        Right now, Councilwoman Clara Pugh questions the need for the legislation. In the past, administrators have merely had to ask parents to remove their kids' recreational equipment from public property and their requests have been heeded.

        But Councilman David Lives said the code amendment would establish necessary parameters and create safer city streets. “In a perfect world, everyone would comply,” he said. But, “hopefully, we won't have to use (the new law) very often.”

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