Parents in Springfield, Illinois, have spoken out after repeatedly raising concerns about safety at the Central Playground during evening youth football and cheerleading practices.
The conversation started with a widely shared Facebook post from local parent and coach Tina Black Creech, resident of Baxter Springs, Kansas, United States.
She pleaded with families to either talk to their kids about respect or stop sending them without adult supervision, writing that she was shocked by the things she heard and saw during practice.
She wrote,
If you have a kid that is going to central in the evenings to play PLEASE have a conversation with them! Or STOP SENDING THEM WITHOUT AN ADULT! I can’t believe the things that I have heard and seen happening at the playground while football/cheer practice is going on. Stop sending your kids to central with no respect & no adult supervision! It’s getting out of hand!
Tina Black Creech
if you wanna know if your kid is involved just ask me! I will gladly tell you!
Her post sparked a flood of comments describing similar experiences, with some parents saying they were hesitant to let their children return.
Tiffany Coleman, a graduate of Baxter Springs High School, commented that there had been another fist fight that very night. She added,
Another fist fight again tonight? Heard all about this happening last week also. Getting ridiculous.
Tiffany Coleman
On the other hand, Brad McCandless, a CNC programmer at KMT Waterjet Systems, admitted he probably would not allow his children to return after the recent situation. He wrote,
Yea mine probably won’t be going back over there after tonight. I don’t know if they were involved or not
Brad McCandless
Molli Kai Biddle expressed that the situation would improve at all, pointing out that the same behavior had driven her and her children away years ago. She added,
Nothing will change! It happened to me and my kids a few years ago and we haven’t been back!
Molli Kai Biddle
Krista Davis from Columbus, Kansas, recalled similar issues in past years, noting that last season older kids had to be run off after making inappropriate remarks toward her daughter, and this year things escalated with fist fights. She commented,
I feel like it gets worse every year! Last year there were kids running around making inappropriate comments toward Xahria that had to be ran off! This year, there has been a fist fight & constant name calling & inappropriate comments! If your kid doesn’t have a reason to be there during practice, they shouldn’t be up there talking nasty in front of little kids!!!
Krista Davis
Shannon McClintock suggested that the rough kids are simply part of small-town life and sarcastically commented that “the Krafts raise some hell raising kids” and that anyone who could not handle it should keep their children home.
However, the debate underscores the need for responsibility, both from parents ensuring their children are respectful and from the wider community working together to keep Central a safe place for sports and play.
