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LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. (AP) — A homeowner's association in Florida is prohibiting children from playing in the street.
ABC Action News in Tampa (Lakewood Ranch new rules prohibit children from playing on the street) reports the Miramar at the Country Club Homeowner's Association passed a new bylaw last week, saying that children can't play in the street due to safety reasons. Association officials told the TV station that there's one narrow, windy road through the community and drivers often speed.
Heck, my father used to tell us to go play in traffic when we were annoying. I grew up in a neighborhood where children played in the street. I live in one now. I wouldn't buy a house in a neighborhood with fast or heavy traffic.
If people drive fast in neighborhoods, our township installs stop signs at every intersection, breaks up streets to be one way in different directions so there are no straightaways, or installs speed bumps. A no playing in the street rule won't protect a homeowner's association from liability. A child can get hit by a car just crossing the street without playing in it. .
A town in this area passed a similar ordinance a while back and caused quite a debate. Personally, I have no issues if kids that are being responsible play in a cul de sac, which is a street and covered under the ban, but on a through street, its just too dangerous, IMO. At the very least. of the town or HOA bans it and people still do it, they are limiting their liability in case something tragic does happen.
Sounds like it's the speeding drivers who are causing the problem, and not the kids playing in the street.
I agree...everyone played in the street when I was growing up--we just knew to watch for cars. Our kids played in the street growing up and the drivers all watched out for them because their kids were in the pack too...
but kids don't play outside anymore...or at least you wouldn't think so based on posts here
There is no worse governance than a Florida homeowner or condo association. Don't make the same mistake I did a long time ago - avoid these like the plague.
We're talking about Florida here. The HOA is concerned that certain children might be shot dead in another "stand your ground" incident.
You are giving the unpaid, volunteer board members too much credit. Serving on a Florida association board is a thankless job. Most people do it only to serve their own interests, and most members of Florida associations don't have a clue about what they are subject to.
Here's a wild guess, from seeing that one board member in the video. The Board doesn't like kids, and they have the power to keep them from playing on street pavement.
Here's another guess. The outraged parents never participated in the governance of their community. A reasonably competent Board of Directors would have published notice of this bylaw change. If the Board members weren't competent, the members of the association should have voted for other Board members.
Last edited by upgrader; 12-20-2013 at 11:30 AM..
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I grew up in a neighborhood where children played in the street. I live in one now. I wouldn't buy a house in a neighborhood with fast or heavy traffic. 
