SHOULD WE HAVE TO PAY $90 TO HAVE A PARTY IN A PUBLIC PARK?

We had a great birthday party this past weekend at Orchard Park, the secluded playground, fields, and tennis courts on De Hart Road near Ridgewood.

The weather was great and everyone had fun.

But the cost was ridiculous. The rental of the public park, which is maintained with our tax dollars, was $20 per hour, with a $50 clean-up fee.

That meant we had to spend $90 to rent public space and pay someone else to clean it up even though we had done so ourselves.

We also ran into another party that had not reserved space, had not paid a dime and seemed mad at us when they had to move. Add to that the lone basketball hoop with a damaged net and it was not worth what we paid.

It would seem that when tax-paying local residents reserve a space, the equipment should work and they should not have to pay a fee when our taxes already go to the upkeep of the park. And if we clean-up, why should we pay for someone else to do it?