PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY NEEDED TO PROTECT YOUTH

To what extent is it a government's responsibility to safeguard its citizens? Police and fire protection are obvious and justifiable examples, as are aspects of environmental protection and inspections of public transportation. But government can not be and was never meant to be a shield that protects all citizens at all times.

As a community, Cape Girardeau lost a bit of itself last week when a two-year-old wandered onto a street beside a public park and was struck and killed by a passing vehicle. The motorist was not cited for carelessness; it was merely an accident, an unfortunate crossing of people and places with the result being a human tragedy. In the aftermath of this, persons who frequent Indian Park suggested that the city does not do enough to protect those who spend time at this neighborhood playground. Some also maintained that because Indian Park, located at the corner of South Lorimier and William Street, is in an older, lower-income area of Cape Girardeau, city officials provide it with fewer services.

We find this latter argument without merit. Though busy at times, Indian Park is small in size, an L-shaped piece of property that has some benches, picnic tables, playground equipment and frequently used basketball courts. While a portable toilet is located at the park during summer months, there are no perm~anent rest room facilities. It is worth noting, however, that Dennis Scivally Park, a neighborhood park in a higher-income residential area, also lacks permanent rest rooms. Indian Park is scheduled for installation of a drinking fountain this year, and perhaps one of Cape Girardeau's generous civic organizations will step forward to fund a full-sized shelter to improve Indian Park.

We like the idea of neighborhood parks, supplying small parcels of green space in residential areas. Still, they carry with them an innate problem: Where there are people in a concentrated area, there are cars, and this combination accords a hazard. Indian Park provides a special menace since the two streets that border it are busy and relatively close to the areas where children play. No warning is given to approaching motorists that such a situation exists.

Either administratively or through a city council appropriation, we would like to see the city erect signs on South Lorimier and William Street that indicate that there is a park in the vicinity and that motorists should be especially watchful for children at play. This is a minor expenditure that could ultimately have a lifesaving impact. We would also like the police department to study the merits of lowering the speed limit in the blocks around Indian Park as a means of drawing even more attention to the potential danger of children straying into the roadway.

Regardless of the level with which government tries to extend its protection, it can never replace personal responsibility. Parents who take their children to a park must keep them out of harm's way. Motorists must remain alert and cautious, realizing children frequently don't use good judgment. With schools' summer recess upon us, this is more important than ever. Tragedies like the one that occurred last week beside Indian Park can be averted, but individuals can do more in this regard than any government.