Editor:
Some $80,000 has been spent in rebuilding and resurfacing the tennis courts adjacent to the Osoyoos Secondary School grounds.
The workmanship and quality of materials were excellent, and the courts were restored to a very high standard.
During construction a pair of morons with their unlicensed off-road motorcycles saw fit to first tear up the bicycle track, then the park grounds and finally to tear around in the newly-paved tennis courts.
When these wizards saw a neighbour and I approaching, they hurled their machines into a pickup truck and roared off before we could get their licence number.
Since then, and after the finishing of the refurbishment project, teenagers with their skateboards have been using the courts for their destructive antics including marking of the court surfaces, destroying the benches and tearing down the temporary signs prohibiting the use of skateboards, bicycles, and motorcycles.
When approached by a Town employee who tried to get them to stop the destruction, their only response was to badmouth him, then flee.
I understand high school staff has taken steps to place the tennis court off limits to the students at lunchtime.
This has not stopped the improper use of the tennis courts by teenaged skateboarders.
The Town has also placed excellent signage at all entries to the courts – which is not read by the boarders.
Where are the parents of these offenders?
It is not up to the schools and Town workers to teach respect for public and private property.
It is the primary responsibility of parents to teach their progeny it is not their right to destroy property through misuse.
I would hope parents reading this letter will take responsible action in teaching their children respect for property and regulations.
Bob Hyslop,
Osoyoos

OSOYOOS TIMES-May 12, 2010