34 South Main St., Attleboro, MA - (508) 222-7000
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City puts skaters on ice
 John Piette stands under new sign after being kicked off the ice. He has been skating on the pond, located behind his house, for 30 years. but was told Thursday all city owned ponds are off limits. (Staff photo by KEITH NORDSTROM)
Top Headlines He said police shooed him and some families away from a pond off West Street and told him there was no skating allowed on city property. Signs recently went up declaring the ban, he said. Piette said he called the mayor's office and was told the city has banned skating because of a fear that someone would get hurt and sue the city. "This is like the ban on tag," he said, referring to a policy at Willett Elementary School that prohibits children from playing rough games on the school yard. "What is next? Are they going to ban baseball in the parks because someone might get hurt? I could get hurt walking down the sidewalk. Are they going to ban that?" he said. Mayor Kevin Dumas could not be reached for comment, but police Chief Richard Pierce said the action by the city is not so much a ban as it is an enforcement of common sense. Winter weather fluctuates and skaters cannot be sure ponds are frozen solid, especially larger ones, he said. Skaters could fall through the ice and endanger themselves and rescuers, he said. "We're trying to err on the side of caution and safety," he said. "We're not trying to give anyone a hard time. If something were to happen to anyone, I would feel awful." Pierce said the city has always asked skaters to stay off bodies of water like Cranberry Pond and Lake Como. This year, Pierce said he asked at a recent department head meeting for no-skating signs to be put up. "We're being cautious. We can't say the ice is safe. If someone fell through, it would open us up to litigation," he said. Piette said he has always skated on the pond near his home on West Street, across from the water department pumping station. He said he was told the ban applied to all city-owed ponds, not just those that feed into the water system. Skating has even been prohibited at Lees Pond in a city recreation area, he said. Piette said there is now nowhere to skate in Attleboro. The city has a concrete skating rink in the Balfour Riverwalk Park, but it goes unused because the city no longer fills it with water during the winter to create ice. "This is absolutely ridiculous to me," he said. City officials said the concrete rink has been closed because of a broken drain.
Post Your Comments Ban? No Ban? wrote on Feb 16, 2007 2:33 PM: " The article states:"Chief Richard Pierce said the action by the city is not so much a ban as it is an enforcement of common sense."
Not so much of a ban!?! This is coming from the top law enforcement guy. Is it, or Isn't it a ban? If it's law, it is defined. Is he saying that Mr. Piette has no common sense? He is still alive after 30 years of ice skating there.(not continously;-) This pond he skates at is only two feet deep AND the ice is EIGHT inches thick!
" Ken wrote on Feb 16, 2007 1:36 PM: " How about a "Skate At Your Own Risk" sign instead of "No Skating". It's supposed to be government FOR the people, not against them. " Fix it wrote on Feb 16, 2007 1:08 PM: " Whoa. Easy Ted. Mayor Dumas will get this settled, because it reflects badly on him. He is reasonable, and has listened to reason when Chief Pierce closed the reservoir. Chief Pierce has done it again, and I think Mayor Dumas will solve this and set him straight. Just give it a little time, the pressure is building. Want to do more? Call the mayors office and nicely tell them how you feel as a taxpaying voter. It works. (508) 223-2222 " Fatboy wrote on Feb 16, 2007 12:34 PM: " Kids are getting heavier. So let's ban tag and ice skating. Does someone in this government have stock in liposuction or a pharmaceutical company? " Ted wrote on Feb 16, 2007 12:23 PM: " I think it's time to remove Dumas from office. This is just another example of poor leadership in Attleboro. I presonally am waiting for a true leader to take office. Does anybody know what Cliff Sherman is doing? He would make a great mayor " Alex L. wrote on Feb 16, 2007 11:33 AM: " Since when common sense has to be "enforced"? It is there for those who choose to use it... it's called: Freedom. This is so silly. What's next? a ban on coffee? Microwave ovens? Doesn't the town have bigger issues to worry about? " youth wrote on Feb 16, 2007 11:22 AM: " The city has absolutely lost it. I believe if somebody skates on a pond of ice, they should fully be aware of the dangers and risks that come with it. The city really isn't resonsible for how safe ice is?! I've been skating on area ponds every winter, the key is the find a smaller body of water and be cautious. Stay where you can be seen and dont go alone. The city has to allow humans to be humans and have the freedom, especially in this country to skate on an open body water! Pierce why don't you get serious with yourself? " Karen wrote on Feb 16, 2007 11:14 AM: " What do other towns do? " Jack R. wrote on Feb 16, 2007 10:56 AM: " It seems like every week lately we lose another little bit of personel freedom in this country. You know the one I'm talking about right? It's the one many of our sons and daughters, fathers, mothers fought for over our history. Where has it gone? I wonder what the next 50 years will bring or take away. Very sad. " Mary J. wrote on Feb 16, 2007 10:38 AM: " Oh, this is patently ridiculous. The city is so fearful of lawsuits that it won't allow public use of public property... Shouldn't City Hall be closed to the public? Someone might slip on the stairs, or run into a doorframe, or stub a toe. What about those dangerous schools? Those are public property, and children are being hurt there every day - no, wait; we've already seen the result of that sort of thinking in the tag-ban, haven't we? Silliness rules once again. Good going, Attleboro - you'll be back on Leno again any day now! " dan k. wrote on Feb 16, 2007 10:19 AM: " I guess they couldn't find any "skate at your own risk" signs. It's easier to take away freedoms that we all have had since the town started. " Steve H. wrote on Feb 16, 2007 8:25 AM: " This is a stupid no-tag policy!! What is wrong with this city, this state. What government department do I call to get my bum wiped. For crying out loud! How about we all sue the town for icy sidewalks... wait, maybe we could skate on the icy sidewalks. This is just like when they closed the reservoir because of terrorism, then opened it, then closed it, then opened it again after a community group presented logical arguments for its re-opening. Or when they added "from shore" on the fishing permits to stop ice fishing. (Which, by the way, is excellent at the reservior) So much for freedom and self determination. " or
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