First, let me state that I live in a very quiet and friendly subdivision. My house is on a court, and we who live in the court all have young children. (under 10), Our children enjoy playing in the court where there is little traffic other than each other coming and going. We are all very neighborly and there has never been issues.

This past Christmas, we purchased a new basketball goal for my son to play with. The neighbor across from us happened to purchase one for her son as well. We set them up on the outskirts of the courts, in our own yards so that the children could play safely there.

It seems now, that some teenagers from other parts of the neighborhood have discovered that these goals are here, and in a place with little to no traffic and have gotten in the habit of coming to play ball pretty much on a daily basis. I normally wouldn't have any issue sharing the space or even our goals if it weren't for their behavior.

They curse endlessly while the younger children are out, and tend try and scare the younger ones off. They spit and yell and throw trash at the dogs in the courts (who stay in their own yards, might I add) and some even jump up on cars or mailboxes when the dogs go out into the yard to use the restroom, even though they are fenced or leashed. They run the young ones trying to ride their bikes or powerwheels off the "court area" while they are playing. They also are pulling the goals down to low levels so they can dunk, and we have had to replace the screws twice already. They have been hanging on the nets themselves as well.

Many of the parents are just pulling their children inside for fear of vandalism if they say something. I feel like, while this is a public street, we as homeowners around it should not be subjected to this behavior. We live in a nice neighborhood, and I don't understand how parents are just letting these kids roam wherever. They stay for HOURS. All day on the weekends. I don't have a problem with them being there, I just have a problem with their behavior.

I am in the right to say something? Is there anything short of pulling the goals onto our driveways that we can do? (although I'm pretty certain they would pull them back out, because I saw the neighbor try that). We do not have a HOA. I really am trying to be neighborly here, but I feel like My children have the right to play there as well, especially since we live here, and these other kids do not.

Advice?

Thanks to whoever moved this - I was uncertain whether it belonged where I placed it initially.

Yeah, I moved it as this is more of a legal question than a parenting question. I hope someone answers you soon.

So you take the goals in and remove them from the street when your chidren are not using them. Keep the goal in your drive way perhaps so that they can not come and play with it.

As noted the streets are public and cursing kids have a right to be in the street.

If you leave your goals on public property so that they can use them, there is little that can be done.

Since it's too important of a topic to overlook, I broke the post into paragraphs for easier reading.

Are these teenagers coming onto private property when they are running amok?

The goals are actually on private property, the teenagers are moving them down into the streets. We had them close to the curbs so the children could use them safely. My neighbor attempted to pull hers up the driveway after she first noticed it, but it was pulled back down. Most of the time this happens while we are at work. I get off at 3:30 daily, and by the time I get home around 4 they are already out there. I understand they have the right to be on the public street, I just want to know if the abuse keeps up (threatening the other children and the treatment of the dogs) Do I have any rights?

Yes when you see them having taken them to the road, call the police. You perhaps lock them in the yard, put them away where they can't be pulled to the road.

Put cameras up to prove who is going into your yard.

I really hate the thought of troubling the police for something like this though. I don't really mind them playing, I just wish I could control their behaviour. I guess I can't have it both ways though. I suppose I will just keep watching and if it gets too bad, call the police. Thanks for your thoughts.

Could a dad or even a mom go out there periodically during the young kids' play? If the teens see an adult out there, they will be much less inclined (I hope!) to interfere and take over.

Go see their parents, ask them if they will be willing to pay for damages to the goals, and the such. Explain the problem to their parents?

we all take turns, and one father said something, but they seem to be unafraid of adult figures. It's not like any of us can really do anything. They rarely come onto property if we are out there, so at that point it's just nasty attitudes and speech. Even my 8 year old will come in after a time and complain about the cursing. It really anoys me how quickly kids grow up now, and now some of these children could be shaped by this. Like I said, except for them moving the goals and messing with the dogs, they really aren't tresspassing or anything. I'll figure some way to deal with it. I'd like to hope that finding their mother or father and speaking to them would help, and have considered following them when they leave for the night on their bikes, but some part of me tells me that their disrespect of authority is not just a random thing.

Go see their parents, ask them if they will be willing to pay for damages to the goals, and the such. Explain the problem to their parents?

LOL I didn't see this until after my response. I may follow them one night soon and see.

I noted the "treatment of the dogs" comment. In my area the Police are sort of so-so about this type of thing. Animal Control, is militant. I always joke that if someone breaks into my house I'm calling Animal Control!

How bad is the pet abuse?

They mainly just throw things at them behind the fence, trash and whatnot. If someone comes out with one on a leash, though I have seen them call the dog or egg them on. I don't really understand, because they are really scared of the dogs... they are always jumping up on mailboxes or cars when mine go out (I have invisible fence). I have to admit I get a little pleasure by letting the dogs out when they are being exceptionally rowdy, but I'm pretty sure my neighbor who parks on the street does not. Lol.

How many of these teens are there? All male?

All male, I'd guess close to 10. It varies day to day. And I'm only guessing that they are teens because they are so much bigger than my 8 year old, and the ten year old next door. One actually looks to be college age... but I went out and asked him not to bring his air rifle around the children Friday after seeing the 5 year old across the court going after it, and haven't seen him come back.

I had a really bad problem with a neighbor. Several of us banded together and hired an Attorney who wrote the parents letters explaining their liability. That ended that.

Well once I find the parents, that could be a good option without involving any police. Great Idea. Thanks.

Had it been only a few teens, I was going to suggest that you engage them somehow with maybe a pizza party out in the public area and get to know them (and they you). It's harder to be a bully to someone who is nice to you and is feeding you pizza. But ten or more teens make that idea a bit unwieldy.

Great idea. But I agree... it may be too many. I don't know. Maybe I can get some of the other neighbors in on it and do a "start of summer" thing or something. Introduce ourselves, and maybe explain that just like they have a right to play there, so do the younger ones... and maybe reinforce that if they mess with the dogs, they have a greater chance of being bitten? Stern but not so threatening?

Depending on the parenting these teens get (not much, it seems), you might be doing them a huge favor. Even if you grabbed a few of them and handed out homemade brownies or cookies and engaged them in a brief conversation, that might make a world of difference. (Give the treats to ALL the kids, so the teens don't think you are poisoning them.)

Lol. Poisoning, indeed.

Or lacing the brownies with Ex-Lax...

I've done that to work thieves before... but it clearly stated it on the label right next to my name, had they read It...

... They spit and yell and throw trash at the dogs in the courts (who stay in their own yards, might I add) and some even jump up on cars or mailboxes when the dogs go out into the yard to use the restroom, even though they are fenced or leashed. ...

Well trained dogs. I have never been able to train a dog to use a restroom. But what is the restroom doing in the yard? :)

Seriously, consider chaining the baskeball net to something immovable, using a padlock, so it is on your property when not being used. And then post a sign prohibiting trespassing. If these kids want to use your net they, or their parents, wll have to talk to you and come to an understanding.

Thanks, AK. I appreciate it... and I could've typed the words I was really thinking, but I try to keep my pirate's mouth out of public spaces :) LOL