Berliner Problems........AGAIN!

[Jose_canusee]

We are meeting with the city as well on Thursday to go over several items. I have been running and help running tournaments for the last 30 years there SP and FP. The break ins suck ! There is no other way to say it, but I have been going there with my father since a very young age, Playing SP there since I was 18 , watching my daughter play and running tournaments there. I have never or anyone I am close to, has never had there's broken in to.
It is sad, that it is looked upon as a target area for thieves, because it is a great park , I have heard great things and not do great things, but that is the same for a ton of parks all around that I have been too.

 

[BA824]

It's a bit off topic and self-centered, but the thread about Berliner reminded me of something. Back in about 1985 or so, I was barely out of high school and playing on and running a slow-pitch team. We played at Berliner a few nights per week. I was involved in a meeting at Agler-Davidson Sporting Goods on Hamilton Road in Columbus that was the very start of the B.A.T.S. program to improve Berliner Park.

As I recall, it was Jeff Hague of Hague Water Conditioning and a big supporter of slow-pitch, Gary Ogle of Columbus Parks and Rec, Keith Winter who hosted a softball show on the local cable channel and I think maybe Jerry Pinoni who was a big-time player and worked for Agler-Davidson. There might have been a couple of other people present. I was heavily involved in the game, but I was mainly an accessory there and maybe they wanted someone young to help set the table for the future. It never fails to amaze me that these 30 years later to see what Berliner has become and that B.A.T.S. is still in existence. And I believe all of those guys I mentioned are in the Columbus Softball Hall of Fame that is displayed in front of Diamond 4 at Berliner.

If you would have seen Berliner back in the 1980s and then to see it now, it's just amazing. Back in the day, it was all just a small dirt infield and a small bench on each side. Diamonds 1, 4 and 5 had fences and at least the bench areas were fenced off. The one thing missing to this day from the three main areas are decent restroom facilities. One stall for men (and presumably women) at the quads is obviously insufficient for tournaments.

Joe I remember all those guys and Agler Davidson. I first played slow pitch at Berliner about 1987. Actually played with Mike Craig. It was just a bunch of dirt cutouts small backstop and 2 old benches. The BATS program has done a ton of improvements. Been in that park 30 years as a player and coach and never been broken into. Just be smart and aware.

 

[wow]

If I remember right, the city charges you to park there, and I am sure they get money for the non-city events being held there. Maybe they should use some of that money to have a stronger police presence or hire a security company?

Or maybe they should build a wall to keep out the deplorables!

They have police presence. When you pull in they make sure the cones are up and EVERYONE funnels in to pay your $5. I do a ton of work in Columbus and work with Cbus PD on a fairly routine basis. They are so overworked as a department. When you call them they take forever to respond and simply will not make a arrest unless its over $1000 (felony) level. Even with video, eye witnesses, and DNA evidence. They simply do not have the resources to allow officers to patrol a recreational event. The best way to combat this is to hire off duty or contract to a outside security company. Really boils to cost, who is gonna foot the bill? The city? The visitors to the park in way of higher admissions? The folks holing their event at the location? Guess who>

 

[WWolff]

They have police presence. When you pull in they make sure the cones are up and EVERYONE funnels in to pay your $5. I do a ton of work in Columbus and work with Cbus PD on a fairly routine basis. They are so overworked as a department. When you call them they take forever to respond and simply will not make a arrest unless its over $1000 (felony) level. Even with video, eye witnesses, and DNA evidence. They simply do not have the resources to allow officers to patrol a recreational event. The best way to combat this is to hire off duty or contract to a outside security company. Really boils to cost, who is gonna foot the bill? The city? The visitors to the park in way of higher admissions? The folks holing their event at the location? Guess who>

They do have on site security that patrols the park, and we will be adding a 2nd security guard this coming year. Berliner is also working on installing security cameras for the fall of 2017!
They have also recently got the godhead to have a full time officer stationed at the gate for their events! So to say that they are not doing anything, or don't care couldn't be further from the truth.

 

[Jose_canusee]

City is also going to be putting up a much higher fence as well on the 71 side. Not only will the officer be there ft, but they are also having a private security come in.
They are working on the security improvements . They want Berliner to be a top notch facility. I guess if you don't like it, don't go back. That's how we handle tournaments if we don't like the way it is , we don't return the following year.

 

[BulldawgsDirector]

Ive probably coached at that park 30 times and have never had any issues. (knock on wood). We don't park at the edge of the highway or along Greenlawn ave and lock our doors. I know people have had problems but here is a testimonial from someone who has never. I know they are taking measures for upgrades in security. Like stated above, if you don't like it don't go back. But you will certainly be missing some top notch events in the heart of Ohio. No park in the state puts as much money back into the park for upgrades as Berliner does.

 

[recCoach]

Not only does the City have the responsibility for security and safety, but I believe the (TD) should share the responsibility as well. If it cost more money for the (TD) to host a event in a high crime area they should pay the cost for off duty officers to protect the safety and security of everyone attending. If they can't afford to do the right things at all times then maybe people should look for a another event. We played in a rec tournament about 7 years ago with only 42 teams and they had off duty offices on foot Patrol and a squad car and one officers at the gate all weekend.

We ask the (TD) why he had the police at the tournament and he said, He felt it was his responsibility for the girls, teams and families safety and security.

We ask him how much it cost him? He said 2,000 dollars for the weekend. This (TD) was more concern about my girls and families safety and security then making a extra 2 grand.

I do believe it was a very effective method for keeping everyone behavior in check for the weekend as well.

Unfortunately we need more (TD) that are willing to do things right.

Not only did this (TD) do things rights when it came to extra security. The diamonds were redone after ever 2 games. Bathrooms were kelp clean all weekend, even had a bathroom attendant running around all day cleaning and sanitizing and restocking the bathroom. Has anyone ever seen this? It was the 1st and last time we seen it.

Trash cans were never full, they remove the plastic liner when they were 3/4 filled. Dugout were kelp clean, new softballs hanging in a laundry bag at ever diamond. Even had someone walking around and restocking softball when needed. They also had a copy of the tournment rules inside a zip lock bag in every dugout. Squad on duty incase of injury.

And to top it off they had a (TD) for every age group. ASA Chief umpire and ASA district or regional directory not really sure what his real title was but they were both available all times. If a (TD) is willing to do everything right it cost money so look for the (TD) that are willing to do it right, because they are spending the money for all the right reasons.

If a event is cancelled I'm in agreement with what others are saying, that some type of refund would be appropriate.

The sad thing and from my own Experience and yes my teams mostly focus on playing in recreational and youth league tournaments with maybe one of two travel team tournaments every year. We was definitely spoiled and have never seen another (TD) who went the distance this (TD) did when it come to putting on a great tournament for everyone attending.

If I ever decided to put on a tournament, my very first move would be to contact this (TD) and ask him to run my tournament. Hands down it would be a no brainer in my book and with his experience I'm sure it would be a event everyone would enjoy.

 

[0203bbmom]

Just my two cents but we've played at Berliner now for years. It's never a guarantee your car will always be safe but....... Do not park along the side of the road against 71 or the far opposite side. This makes it very easy for anyone to sneak around to the side not visible and break in. Move your car if you are playing on field 6 then field 31. Make sure your car is within view. Sometimes this means parking with in foul ball territory and at risk of a dented hood or cracked windshield, but at least nothing will get stolen. Don't leave anything...ANYTHING... in view through the windows. Throw everything in the trunk before you leave your house/motel. Buy an inexpensive sound alarm that goes off when a cooler lid is opened or truck bed cover is moved. There are some very cheap and LOUD alarms out there.