Summer camp director asks Marbletown board for limited exclusive use of park over safety concerns

Casey McClintock, director of Marbletown’s summer camp, told the town board she is seeking limited exclusive use of the community park on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for the remaining four weeks of the season to reduce safety risks to campers.

"We have had individuals from nearby living resources using our bathroom unattended while campers were present, using profanity around the children," McClintock said, adding that off-leash dogs and members of the public walking through camp activities have led to constant interruptions.

McClintock, who said the program averages about 35 to 50 campers on typical days, said staff already limit access to certain parts of the park but that the new playground has been particularly attractive to non-camp users. "That's our biggest concern," she said, describing incidents last year that prompted the request.

Councilman Hunt thanked McClintock for the work and asked follow-up questions about counselor-to-child ratios and specific incidents. A longtime former camp instructor who addressed the board described multiple near-miss safety events, including a car that entered the parking lot at high speed toward the playground and a recurring, combative individual who could not be removed because the park was open to the public.

Board members and public attendees discussed several possible, short-term compromises. Suggestions included restricting camp activities to the older playground already used by counselors, adding signage or staff presence, and hiring a retired police officer for greater visibility during camp hours. The board also suggested McClintock forward documented incident reports to staff for formal review and follow-up.

Chair closed the public-comment exchange by saying the board would discuss options and follow up with McClintock and staff; no formal policy change or permit was adopted at the meeting.