by Shane Sody

There are dozens of fenced locations in your Adelaide Park Lands. When you see a fenced area, do you think it’s OK to hop over, or to go around the fence?

You might reasonably assume that the fences are there to keep you out. That’s not always the case, but it’s easy to make that assumption.

Even if you can go around or over a fence, you probably consider it prudent not to risk it, especially when there’s no signage assuring you it’s OK to enter.

One example of a proposed fence has hit the news.

It seems that the Adelaide City Council is having second thoughts about a recommendation to allow the Comets soccer club to fence a playing field in Ellis Park / Tampawardli (Park 24).

On Tuesday 6 February, Councillor David Elliott raised concerns about the width of the proposed gates and whether signage would be enough. “There’s something in the psyche where if a space isn’t wide enough, it doesn’t look inviting enough,” Cr Elliott said.

UPDATE: Tuesday 13 February

A City Council meeting has voted narrowly to reject the application for a fence around this soccer pitch.

Councillors Keiran Snape, Janet Giles, Carmel Noon, Phillip Martin and David Elliott combined in a 5-4 vote to reject the proposed fence.

Councillor Janet Giles asked about “the precedent” she said such a proposed fence might set for other sporting clubs.

However, the precedent on your Park Lands was set a very long time ago. There are dozens of places in your Park Lands where fences give the (false) impression that you are not allowed to enter.

Consider these other examples.

Karen Rolton Oval (Park 25)

The white picket fence around this oval in your Gladys Elphick Park/ Narnugga (Park 25) certainly gives the impression that you are not allowed onto the playing surface. However, that’s not the case.

Yes, the SA Cricket Association can keep you off Karen Rolton oval, but ONLY when it has matches scheduled here.

For the remainder of the year, it’s legally Open, Green, Public Park Lands - available for your use. Who knew?

Lefevre Park / Nantu Wama (Park 6)

It’s a common misconception that these fences around the horse paddocks are intended to keep you out. But that’s wrong, too!

The fences exist to keep the horses in, not to keep you out. There are several gaps in the fence to enable visitors to squeeze in. You can take a stroll across the horse paddocks at any time. Consider using our Trail Guide to explore this Park 6, including inside the fence.

Tennis courts

There are many fenced tennis courts throughout your Park Lands. In most cases, the fences are simply to keep tennis balls inside! Some tennis courts are licenced to give schools priority access but at most times, they are free for public use.

An exception is the pay-to-play courts within the 3.8 hectare compound at Memorial Drive, within Tarntanya Wama (Park 26) which is subject to a decades-long lease, and is therefore effectively a privatised sport industry on your Park Lands.

Helen Mayo Park (Park 27)

This long fence near the edge of the River Torrens / Karrawirra Pari serves no useful purpose, except to prevent you getting across Helen Mayo Park from the riverbank.

More than a year after we raised the issue with the City Council, no date has been provided for when the fence will be torn down.