Thread: Keeping kids out of my yard

OK, this could be a fun topic. I'm looking for serious answers as well as outlandish suggestions:

My wife and I recently bought a single family home in Suburbia, USA. We have about a third of an acre--nothing that large, but the house is well positioned so we have a decent backyard.

Herein lies the problem. There's a group of about five to 10 kids that likes to hang out back there and play wiffle ball in our yard. In fairness, a couple of them do have backyards that adjoin ours.

This is annoying me and really annoying my wife. Mainly it's annoying her more because I'm spending most of my time at the house under the kitchen sink, laying tile, etc. and don't see them as much. (We're remodeling the new house while living in the one we just sold...) I suspect part of the problem is that we're not living in the house full time yet.

I don't want to put up a fence, because that just hems everything in. (I keep explaining to my wife that Hemingway was being facitious when he wrote "good fences make good neighbors.") I like the idea of a more open area that's a little more useable for everyone.

But these kids are being pretty obnoxious about it. They're practically on the back porch at times. They're also tearing up my lawn. I wouldn't mind it if they'd ask, but they just act like they're entitled to be there. (This goes back to our thread on teachers--kids aren't taught respect these days. Oh, yeah, the parents sit out on the deck and watch the little trespassers... )

I'm way too young (26) to become the crusty old man who scares everyone away. And I don't want to start World War III with the new neighbors. I guess I'll need to have a talk with some of the offenders and their parents; it's frustrating that that's even necessary, though.

Any other suggestions for keeping them at bay? I've suggested motion-sensing gattling guns, an idea that my wife likes.

Josh

Works for Dogs and Cats


....of course, you could always just nicely ask them to respect your property lines.

(....but where's the fun in THAT???...)

-whatever

-Lou

another idea .......





you could either buy 3 Pit-Bulls, or invite GW up for a week or so.....


....let him practice his 'knife-fu' in the back yard every morning....THAT should scare the bejeezus out of the little buggers!

(...at least it SHOULD.....it sure scares the dickens out of ME!...)

-okay....I'm done

...I promise

-whatever

-Lou

DAMN!!

I can't help it! I just keep getting these brilliant ideas!

Okay....here goes....
















Country Western music.........LOUD Country Western music....you know, the OLD stuff.....Tex Ritter.....Merle Haggard.....who was the goofy one with the outfit???.....


oh yeah....Buck Owens




(.....hell, I don't think the COWBOYS liked THAT sh!t....)


....okay.....


...I'll be good now

-whatever

-Lou

Well, Josh, I have mixed feelings about your problem. I understand that you're protective of your yard, as am I. OTH, there is something special about kids being able to play outside, and I remember wiffle ball being lots of fun. Too many of today's kids sit with their thumbs on some video game instead of enjoying what God has given us. (This is open for debate, but I suspect the other fellow had something to do with the video games.) I love to hear the sound of children playing, which is one reason I chose to live in a town rather than a more secluded area. I remember that as a boy I ranged freely, and quite often ran afoul of adults asserting their right not to have me on their property.
Having said all of that, I am also guilty of running kids out of my back yard.

Norm

Josh,
land mines, although motion sensing weapons are nice, if you place your mine correctly you can claim that they were there before you bought your house.
latex paintballs, refrigerated, punji stakes in the ground, GW will cry because they are not kosher... rock salt loaded shotgun rounds.

of course some fence posts with no tresspassing signs is a fun place to start take pictures and call the cops.

i get poachers, i find a .22 into the radiator core, near the top works nicely, they get a few miles away before the problems begin.

They sell motion activated sprinklers for keeping small animals out.

In the summer they might just enjoy it but wait till the fall and I think they would get the idea

Josh - buy a dog. A big one. Keep it hungry. Smear the kids with bacon fat. Hilarity ensues!

Seriously, I guess you are just going to have to have a word with their parents. It's not the ideal way to meet the neighbours though.

Hey....maybe you could go around to the neighbours and introduce yourself. Let it drop in the conversation that you got the house cheap because of the lead levels found in your backyard.

James.

Originally Posted by Geoff

They sell motion activated sprinklers for keeping small animals out.

In the summer they might just enjoy it but wait till the fall and I think they would get the idea

that reminds me they sell "propane cannons" in various sizes there is no projectiles but they are loud and expensive ... good for keeping birds off the runway and scring away other critters you can get them with motion detectors or a simple timer

Originally Posted by Jimbo

...Hey....maybe you could go around to the neighbours and introduce yourself. Let it drop in the conversation that you got the house cheap because of the lead levels found in your backyard.

James.

-whatever

-Lou