Members of the community hold a positive view towards a proposed alcohol ban in Ames neighborhood parks.

The proposal, which would prohibit the use of alcohol at most city parks, is being discussed by the Ames Parks and Recreation Commission, said Nancy Carroll, director of Ames Parks and Recreations. She expects the discussion to continue for six to eight more weeks.

Iva Nelson, owner of Jack and Jill Children’s Center, said she agrees with the proposal. “There are places where it would be more appropriate, and with Little League games and things I think it would be a good idea to ban it,” she said.

The commission makes a distinction between neighborhood parks and community parks. Of the 29 parks in the system, five of them are considered community parks and would be excluded from the ban, Carroll said.

These parks include Brookside, Inis Grove, Emma McCarthy Lee, Moore Memorial and River Valley. All of these parks are 50 or more acres and have restroom facilities and many shelters, making them a better area for the consumption of alcohol, Carroll said.

Although alcohol consumption is typically not a problem in the smaller parks, one park that could be negatively affected is Stuart Smith Park at the intersection of Elwood Drive and South 4th Street.

Because Stuart Smith Park is located near Cyclone Stadium, it is typically used by tailgaters before Iowa State football games.

Carroll said that tailgating would probably be considered a special circumstance and police might not cite such violators of the ordinance.

“It’s like getting caught for speeding. The officer can tell you to slow down or give you a ticket,” Carroll said.

This ordinance would give police the opportunity to allow drinking in this park or issue tickets if alcohol is being abused, she said.

Ames Community Preschool Center director Sue Wuhns also thought the proposal was appropriate for the neighborhood parks.

“We have had some encounters with people using alcohol, primarily at Bandshell Park,” she said. She did not know of any other parks with alcohol use problems.

The neighborhood parks, which are typically a couple of acres in size and bordered by residences, would be affected by the ordinance, Carroll said. She does not think this will negatively impact the parks and recreation system.

Moira Murphy, a junior in elementary education, takes the children she babysits to local parks.

“Smaller parks are more family oriented, so kids shouldn’t be going there and finding empty beer cans and bottles,” she said. “I don’t want the kids I babysit for to find the bottles and I’ll have to explain to them what it is.”

Park rules have not been reconsidered for 15 years, Carroll said, and the commission decided it would be a good idea to look into it.

She said the proposal was created because if people are drinking in a neighborhood park, there is no where to get away from them, due to the small size of these parks and the limited shelter space.

By the first of the year, Carroll said the proposal will be formally recommended by the commission to the city council and could be passed after three readings.

Overall, “public view is positive,” Carroll said.