(Chris LaPelusa/Sun Day Graphic)
The Pokemon have come to Sun City.
I’m not making this up, Sun Citians. Pokemon Go, like anything else that young people like, has gone viral, worldwide. Someone, somehow, has devised a map of Pokemon hunting areas, and on it includes the parking lot and entrance turn-arounds at Prairie Lodge.
There was no public announcement about this because Pokemon can be found anywhere when using this gaming app. Some residents became concerned when young people, and even some adults, suddenly started showing up at the lodge earlier this summer. They come most often in the evening, starting around 8 p.m., but sometimes they have been seen at midday or in the late afternoon.
The first sighting, according to resident Diane Gordor, who frequently attends activities and walks around the lodge in the evening, was on August 23. Gordor probably reflects the attitudes of many residents when she says she believes the lodge area is private property, and the kids’ actions are illegal.
“They should not be there. They sometimes do it by driving, even through the entrance areas to Jameson’s and the main entrance. I feel threatened by them, and they say it’s okay for them to be there. I disagree.”
Gordor and others have called the police, but authorities say the lodge area is public and the Pokemon activities are legal.
“There is no restriction in Sun City on this kind of activity, as long as no one creates a disturbance or actually threatens someone,” said deputy chief Mike Klunk. “Sun City owns the property, but it is quasi-public. Public access is permitted to Jameson’s and to Drendel Ballroom. If the association wants to establish restrictions for Pokemon, or bike riding, or skateboarding, they would have to take action to do that. The games are also played at the public library. They are harmless.”
This may be disappointing to some residents, but Executive Director Deanna Loughran says the police are correct. “Mike Klunk is correct that our governing documents do not and cannot restrict public behavior,” Loughran told the Sun Day. “The rules and regulations contained in the governing documents are binding to residents who accept title for property in the community, similar to contract law, where an agreement binds the parties involved to the terms of the agreement. I know Pokemon is a hot topic all over our country, and I do not know what type of right private property owners have to restrict the players of this game,” Loughran continued. “If this is something the community or board of directors really wants to pursue, I believe we would need direction from our legal advisor to know what remedies, if any, we have. Our community is not gated nor do we have roving security. Without restricted public access or hired security, the ability to enforce any type of restriction would be challenging.”
The most recent association board meeting was September 21. It is likely that residents initiated discussion of this matter at that time. If the board decides to pursue this topic, the Sun Day will monitor the discussions.
At about 8 p.m. on September 13, two young brothers stood near the main entrance to the lodge playing Pokemon Go. They said they were from the Rockford area. One was a teen, the other a pre-teen. They were friendly, non-threatening, enjoying themselves, and very intent on “catching” Pokemon. Assuming that the majority of Sun Citians know little or nothing about this world-wide Pokemon phenomenon, Pokemon is a media franchise that spans video games, trading card games, animated television shows and movies, comic books, and toys. Pokemon is the second-most successful and lucrative video game-based media franchise in the world. According to Wikipedia, the game Pokemon Go centers around fictional creatures called Pokemon, which humans, known as Pokemon trainers, catch and train to battle each other for sport.
The Pokemon Go gaming app is played via cell phones, creating a live-action version of the classic video game.
