Party At The Park’s Pavilion Provokes Police Presence
Today was my three-year-old’s birthday party at a local park. I was really nervous about this because it was kind of last-minute (for me), and I was afraid of having a party at the public park with so many people being there and others not realizing you have to rent the pavilion on the city’s page. I was afraid there would be another birthday party there and I would have to tell another mother that I already had it rented. I was sick over the weekend just thinking how awful it would be to tell another mom this!
Sure enough, we got there, and there was a man there. I walked up explaining, and he said:
Man: “Sorry, I have my receipt.”
I could tell right then by the tone of his voice that he wasn’t going to work with me.
Me: “Okay. I’ll call the police and let them handle it.”
When the police got there, I showed them my receipt, and then they walked up to the man and talked to him. The man never showed them his phone, a piece of paper, or a receipt — nothing! I was standing about ten feet back, and an officer called me closer.
Officer: “Listen. He says he has a receipt, and I believe him. He is going to work with you and allow you to use the pavilion, but you have to be gone by 3:30.”
I’m sorry, but as a woman, I could tell that these two male officers and the other man really thought I was just some bimbo wearing Minnie Mouse ears and holding a Mickey Mouse cake. They thought I was about to just say, “Okay,” because they wanted to take his “word” for it while I was standing there with a receipt from the city that clearly showed that I had rented it.
Man: “Ma’am, I’m on the City of [City] board, and I’m buddies with [Other Man]. I’ll call him up! We actually rented out this entire park for $50! I mean, we are doing a fundraiser here.”
Me: “Okay, well, can you show me your receipt for it?
Man: “I don’t know how to look it up.”
I looked at the police officers.
Me: “So, I’m standing here with my City of [City] receipt, and you’re just going to take his word, and my three-year-old doesn’t get her party?”
Every pavilion was taken with parties.
Officer: “It’s a civil matter. I’m sorry.”
Me: “I can’t believe y’all are handling it like this.” *Turning to [Man]* “Okay, we’ll call [Other Man] up!”
He called [Other Man] and put him on speakerphone. [Other Man] then explained to [Man] that he had only rented out the golf disc area at the park for the day, no pavilions.
I rest my case.
This may have just been some birthday party for a three-year-old who’s not gonna remember it, but my kids mean the world to me. Yes, the man was doing a fundraiser, but I organize and host fundraisers and would never use it as an excuse for anything, so it kind of annoyed me.
We ended up having a great party!