Kids In Corpus Christi Play In Rat-Infested Playground
The playground at Cole Park in Corpus Christi, Texas was closed over the weekend.
Children at the playground had been playing with a dead rat.
Here is a story about the park closure.
(The above photo is of a rat in proximity to a squirrel. Both creatures are dirty and should be avoided. Here is information about rats.)
I was in Corpus Christi this weekend.
I saw the playground. It’s in a park along the waterfront and near downtown.
The playground was blocked off with an orange plastic mesh barrier.
The rat story was well-covered in both the newspaper and on television news. I’m sure it was also on local radio.
Yet when I saw the playground on Saturday afternoon, at least 10 people had crossed the barrier and were in the rat zone.
I had to look twice to believe what I was seeing.
Some of the people in the rat zone were adults. Most were kids.
It’s possible, I suppose, that the parents had not recently read or seen any local news.
Still, the playground was barricaded. The parents could have guessed it was barricaded for some reason.
I wondered why the City of Corpus Christi had not posted a sign in both English and Spanish notifying people why the park had been closed.
The city park superintendent, a Chris Semtner, was interviewed on TV. He said the city lacked the resources to keep the park as nice and rat free as he would wish.
I bet Mr. Semtner was telling the truth.
The park is now open again.
Corpus Christi is an excellent city and I will have nice things to say about it in upcoming posts.
However, it does appear that some parents in Corpus Christi lack parenting skills and that the people of that community have not yet decided that children deserve a nice place to play.
Also, based on what I’ve read about this issue, it would be good if people using Cole Park would not leave rat food in the form of trash all around the playground.
This story could happen anywhere in America.
What is wrong with people and why are our priorities so wrong in this society?
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Welcome To Texas Liberal
Texas Liberal is a blog of politics and political history.
My name is Neil Aquino. Here is my profile.
I can be reached at naa618@att.net.
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Texas Liberal 
Neill they live with rats in their buildings their parks they are used to it. that should have been the headline. living with rats like rats the true story. if this was a rich white park the joggers and breeders would have the whole city fixing the problem. its amazing there were not stabbing the rats with the needles left in the park or the broken 40’s.
All public space has great value and should be rat free.
I missed the follow on this story on how the parents in the cumminity get together and cleaned up the park for the safety of their children, maybe they will but its doubtful.
Nope—They won’t. They most likely won’t even call a city councilperson to ask for a cleaner park.
Neil have you been to this park? i wonder if they have done anything?
Aw, there cute!