Drive Carefully, Keep Campers Safe

“Please keep our parks safe,” states a letter recently mailed to Newtown park patrons from Parks and Recreation Director Amy Mangold and Assistant Director of Recreation RoseAnn Reggiano.

In response to complaints about safety and traffic in the parking lot at Treadwell Park as campers arrive and/or wait for their ride home for the day, Ms Mangold sent a reminder to “all camp parents and guardians” to drive carefully. She also contacted police Chief Michael Kehoe, who has agreed to have an officer at the parking lot (unless there is another emergency) in the morning during drop-off, she said.

Her letter states, “We have been getting some complaints about the speed of traffic through the parking lots of our parks…” Her letter stresses: Drive slowly in parking lot aisles “to give yourself extra time to react to changing conditions like a car backing out of a space or a child running into the aisle from between cars.

“Adjust your seat, mirrors, and radio and make any calls you need to make before you leave your parking space.”

The letter continues: “Don’t engage in distracting behaviors while the car is moving.”

To pedestrians, her letter states, “If you’re walking in a parking lot, stay to the sides of the aisle and stay alert to cars that may be entering or leaving parking spaces. Always hold hands with small children.”

To parents making a pickup or drop-off, she wrote: “If you need to talk to a counselor, friend, or site director please park your car in a parking space. Please do not block flowing traffic for any reason.

“Our parks have many uses other than camp and we need to keep driveway access open at all times.”

The Newtown Parks and Recreation Department staff “wants to do our best to keep all of our campers and park patrons safe.

“Thank you for your cooperation. We hope you are having a wonderful summer.”