More consideration needed at stadiums used by public

Last week, while having my regular jog at Serangoon Stadium, I saw a group of children hogging a segment of a lane on the running track, and putting up hurdles along the track. This happened on a weekday, and during the evening peak-usage hours.

Their coach and a parent were nonchalant when I told them the hurdles may inconvenience others, and both of them said that the stadium is a public space and they were free to do as they wished. My point is, even if it is a public space, everyone should be considerate to others when using it.

The stadium’s caretaker could do nothing when the coach and parent refused to remove the hurdles.

Is the stadium becoming a playground? There are parents who allow their children to play in the sand pitch at the standing broad jump and long jump areas. Children are seen playing at the exercise area where other users lift metal bars or do pull-ups. Accidents could happen. Once, I witnessed a family flying drones in the stadium, and a cyclist riding on the tracks. It is also common to see adults lying on the sit-up bench to have a suntan. In the evenings, parents push prams, and domestic helpers push the wheelchair-bound around the running tracks.

The stadium is meant for selected sporting activities, and it is not a park.

Perhaps Sport Singapore would like to advise its staff members and the caretakers at stadiums on the appropriate course of action to take when they encounter such incidents?

Let us be more considerate to make sports an enjoyable experience for all.