Enjoying the Woodstock Square?

Many residents in Woodstock are proud of our Square and the Park in the Square.

But some members of the public have been avoiding the Square because of groups of rowdy young adults and others. Just what are the conditions on the Square? During the day? Evening? Nights?

Woodstock Police will be increasing patrols on the Square and, according to the Northwest Herald, "paying particular attention to persons in possession of open alcohol, underage smoking, groups blocking the public sidewalk and other disorderly conduct."

Residents of all ages should be aware of a special set of "rules" for the Park on the Square. These are rules that do not apply in other Woodstock parks. These rules are not posted, so you have to be a mindreader to know of them.

For example, you can't loiter on a sidewalk. If you are standing and talking to another or in a group, a cop can write you a $100 ticket for blocking a sidewalk. It is important to know how this law is applied. Is it applied evenly and across all segments of the population?

If a cop sees two people (let's say, kids with long hair and jeans hanging down to their knees) standing  on a sidewalk in the Park on the Square, can he walk up and ticket them? Or must they be interfering with the passage on the sidewalk of another person? Do the cops first "educate" the kids or do they just slam them with tickets?

Suppose he spots the Mayor and a Council member standing on a sidewalk in the Park on the Square, pleasantly engaged in a conversation that does not relate to City business. Will the cop just keep on driving, or will he park his squad car and write two tickets for blocking a sidewalk?

Do you know that you cannot throw a Frisbee in the Park on the Square? Are the cops going to bust fathers and children enjoying the Farmers' Market on a Saturday morning? You can't throw or sail anything - not even a paper, cardboard or cork airplane in the Park on the Square.

And dogs? Well, the signs might still be there, announcing No Dogs in the Park. How do police address that violation? Tickets? Written warning? Verbal "education"?

Want to know what the special rules are for the Park in the Square, so that you don't inadvertently wander into an invitation to visit with Judge Eterno in the Woodstock Administrative Adjudication Court on a second Thursday of the month?

Go to the City's website at www.woodstockil.gov
On the left, click on City Code.
Click on Title 6 - Public Ways & Property
Click on Chapter 2 - Public Parks...
Click on Section 6.2.6 - Prohibited Acts, Article B. Public Square

No ball-playing
No frisbees or similar gliding or sailing "devices"
No skateboarding or bicycle riding in the Park on the Square
No skateboarding or bicycle riding on the sidewalks of streets around the Square or adjacent to the Square. See the listed streets and watch for the warning signs posted near the Square.