Prospect Park's Latest Threat: Balloon Gangs

Photo via Bluejake

Spoiler alert: there are no winners in this story. According to a FIPS tipster, there are rogue balloon gangs invading Prospect Park, in which children are shooting long balloons off into the air and annoying fun-hating grown-ups. (Hey, whatever keeps them out of the bars.) The tipster writes:

"Whenever I go to Prospect Park, and I mean virtually every single time I go to Prospect Park, there is always a group of young kids (under the age of 7 mostly) accompanied by nannies, parents etc. The members of the group will change, different kids and parents each time, but regardless, they've got a pack of those long balloons that are typically used to make balloon animals, and a little specialized pump for pumping them up. A parent pumps the balloon up to its full capacity and then hands it over to the little kid who lets it go so that it rockets up into the air, and subsequently makes that shrill horrible noise that balloons make when released... over-and over-and over-and over again until I have to leave because I'm so annoyed by the noise. It's like they think that just because they're outdoors they can make whatever kind of noise they want because it's a 'public' space."

Her tirade continues here, and is filled with plenty non-child-friendly words. Any sympathizers for this serenity-seeking woman? Or should someone just tell her that Prospect Park is 585-acres HUGE and surely not every square-inch has been overtaken by these punks... yet.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Carlson in Arts & Entertainment on September 2, 2010 3:14 PM

Comments [rss]

jimmycracks

why doesnt this asshole think of the simplest answer

buy a fucking vuvuzela and attach it to an air horn

DERRR

think of how annoying that is

then people cant stand it and confront him and now he can offer a trade

hes already got the argument down now its time to enforce it

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TyroneTrex

All the child-hate is coming from two tribes of annoying and pathetic New Yorkers: long-in-the-tooth yuppies who cover their regret for missing the chance to have kids by hating the kids of others, and the self-absorbed hipsters who are five years away from breeding themselves and moving to the suburbs.

Phil

As an old grouch myself usually I can come up with any number of annoyances, but this just takes the cake. Lady, you are just sad and demented.

John L

NYers just hate everything now.

If your life is so charmed that your biggest problem is kids playing with balloons in a park then you should just sit on a bench and thank your lucky stars.

Personally I think this woman just needs a higher dosage of Prozac.

JacqueMehoff

I saw these things at a tribeca playground last week, must be what the rich kids are doing.

Xwendekar

When I first saw the headline (and picture) I had a very different idea in mind. Something along the lines of those annoying troupes of mimes that roam around the park, shoving balloon animals in your child's face and then shaking you down for $2 or whatever. THAT would be a legitimate gripe.

This, not so much. As long as they pick them up afterwards. Learning not to litter starts young.

ckl

also i hate kids

BrooklynBrood

Good lord. If you have a problem with kids playing with balloons in a PUBLIC PARK then you are officially "The World's Biggest Asshole."

ckl

ITS A FUCKING PARK

ITS WHERE KIDS PLAY

JESUS CHRIST

THEY ARE SHOOTING BALLOONS

BALLOONS

whats next killing the birds for chirping

jay seems to have the worst possible opinion on everything.

rdayk

Annoying, sure, but Prospect Park's huge. Why hang out where all the kids play if kids annoy the heck out of you? I just hope they are picking up the balloons and not leaving them lying in the park like filthy litterbugs.

exnyer

What else is new?

Trisha

you people all seem really cranky.

JayNYC

Memo to the Mommy Brigade -

Not EVERYTHING your little precioius does is "cute" and "innocent", and not every adult who becomes annoyed with it is "fun hating" or a shrew or "doesn't get it".

There's a very, very thin line between kids having fun, and being allowed to ruin the experience of others in a public place, just like there's a thin line between a hypersensitive anti-child shrew and a legitimate bitch about your kid annoying the shit out of the rest of us.

Ralph

Lighten up, Francis.

exnyer

"Balloon Gangs" stupid quote Jen, unless one of them is about to get "popped".

ckl

Rocket balloons? I saw some kids playing with those on the Columbia campus maybe five years. My reaction? FUCKIN SWEET! They go pretty high and make a great squeal. I went around toystores until I could find some for myself and shot them around my apartment and Ft. Tryon.

Unfortunately, they don't have a long shelf live, as I discovered when I refound them and almost every single one exploded while I was pumping it.

More info at http://www.rocketballoons.com/. I suggest everyone get some and go to the park this weekend. I think I might.