City Eyes Closing Kauffman Park’s Basketball Hoops on Saturday or Sunday

Following complaints to city officials regarding foul language and “threatening” behavior at ’s basketball court, Mayor Michael Summers has decided to close the hoops at least one day each week.

Residents on Lakeland Avenue on Monday that they were fed up. Summers said that the courts — the city's only public hoops — were staying open.

By Wednesday, he said the park should close either on Saturday or Sunday — but he’s leaning toward closing the park on Saturday and opening later on Sunday.

“I think if I were a resident — and I think about this as if I were a resident — (I would) more likely to be around on the weekend,” Summers said. “So this is giving them 24 to 36 hours of not having to deal with something that is obviously stressful to them.”

“This is one of the three or four things we need to do."

Summers told residents earlier in the week that the city is already working to address the issues. Among the plans, the city is “reviewing the effectiveness” of a $4,500 sound screen that could minimize the noise from the park.

He also said the city is considering a review of the park’s hours of operation, as well as adding security cameras — like the ones used at .

“It’s not just basketball," Summers said. "We need to make sure that all of our parks our safe.”

Last fall, city council OK’d a pilot program sponsored by the Lakewood Outdoor Basketball Committee. Hoops around the city have been gradually removed over the past several years.

Lakewood basketball enthusiasts say the program has been a success.

Stephanie Toole, the co-founder of LOBC, said the organization has supervisors at the court from the “peak hours” from 4 to 8 p.m.

 “I am very disappointed with how this entire situation is panning out,” she said, adding that it’s difficult to attract volunteers on Saturdays. “Either day the kids lose.”