Q&A: Is playground open to public when school is closed?

A resident asked on Facebook recently if Maplewood Richmond Heights playgrounds are open to the public when school is closed. 40 South News checked it out. Here’s the question, and the answer from the school district:

Q: Can someone help my wife and I settle a discussion? She believes the ECC playground is probably public (at least when the school is not in session) on the the theory that all other school playgrounds are used all the time by neighborhood children, also, there is no sign saying ‘private property’ or ‘no trespassing.’ However, I still say it is not open to the public on the point that there is a fence and gate around the entire thing and the fact that I’ve never seen anyone in there when the school is closed. As much as I love debates based on assumption and inference, I suppose that an actual, legal answer would best resolve the issue for us.

Here is the answer, from the school district:

A: In this case both individuals are correct.  Our property is certainly public but we have the fences to keep students safe. And yes, the public cannot be on the playgrounds, track, etc (with kids) unless they are approved during school or event hours. Again, this is done to keep students safe. Along that same thread is the reason all doors are locked on schools to ensure guests are approved and checked in at the desk.

In the evenings and weekends when school is not in session, or an event is not being held, the public can technically use the playgrounds or walk/run the track for individual use. However we don’t necessarily advertise that as liability issues could come into play if anyone was hurt on the grounds.

Any other questions you might like to have 40 South look into?