Across our Borough, basketball hoops have sprouted in our streets. Without question, it is wonderful that in the age of cell phones and computer gaming that our children are outside and engaged in physical activity. However, we have recently received complaints from residents over the safety hazard that these nets pose. Some of these basketball assemblies are substantial, jutting out as far as parked vehicles, with backboards and rims dangling over the street at a height of ten (10) feet (or lower). At that height, the nets are low enough to impact fire trucks, trash trucks, and/or delivery vehicles. Moreover, the supports to these nets are often black and without reflectors, making them very difficult to see, especially at night.
Now that this has been brought to our attention, not only can’t the Borough ignore the safety hazard that these nets present to vehicles, the Borough also cannot tacitly endorse nor encourage our children to play in the street. It is hard to imagine setting up a swing-set or sandbox in the street for our children to use. Basketball nets are no different. There are basketball hoops readily available at the ball field, the lake, and the school. All are better options than dodging moving vehicles while hustling to rebound your friends failed jump shot.
In light of the above, the Borough can no longer continue to look the other way. We are asking residents to remove these from our streets. They belong in a driveway, not the road.
