The Indy Herald & Globe

By John R. Bruning

This afternoon, while this reporter was photographing the closure at John Pfaff Park on the corner of Gun Club Road and Hoffman, a furious mother drove up to the park entrance and pulled the gating aside.

“I’ve lived here six years, and I’ve paid taxes. There’s no way I am going to deny my children a chance to play at the park because the city cannot manage its budget.”

The Indy Globe offered to blur her face and tattoos to conceal her identity. “No. They can come and arrest me.” she replied.

She finished pulling the gate aside and departed.

Her actions reflect the frustrations of the community as evidenced by the outpouring of commentary on social media. While she was moving the gating, several neighbors around Pfaff Park saw what she was doing and began to cheer.

The park closures have touched a raw nerve in the city of Independence, and the backlash has been immediate. There is a petition to remove the city council and mayor currently circulating on-line. While not binding, of course, it is symbolic of the response to the closures within parts of our community.

Tomorrow’s city council meeting is a work session, so there will be no public commentary. The community discussion will have to largely remain on line for now.