In response to the article titled “Sledders and plow conflict,” Dec. 31, 2008.

First of all, we are all thankful that the 6-year-old was not injured — this must have been a scary experience for this child.

It is very rare that we have a snowfall of the magnitude that occurred before Christmas. It is just as rare that we have heat that exceeds 90 degrees. My point is that streets and/or roads are not playgrounds, and if an emergency occurred that required an ambulance or fire truck to be dispatched, I would want the street to be accessible. When it is 90 degrees, are we going to designate a street off limits so we can fry eggs? The picture of the children on the front page of the Dec. 31, 2008 Mercer Island Reporter sledding on Homestead Field is the safest alternative versus a public street.

For our Councilman Mike Grady to suggest “cordoning off 68th all the way down to 81st” when it has snowed is ludicrous. Streets are not playgrounds, PERIOD!

John Bryant