Sam Dogen, a father of two from San Francisco, recently found himself in an unexpected encounter with park rangers while attempting to teach his 6-year-old daughter and 9-year-old son tennis at Golden Gate Heights Park. Dogen stated that he was simply trying to engage his children in a recreational activity after returning from a family trip.
Approximately 20 minutes into their practice session, two rangers approached Dogen and inquired if he possessed a permit for teaching tennis. Dogen expressed surprise, explaining that he was only instructing his own children. The situation was clarified when one of his children identified him as their father. Although no citation was issued, Dogen was informed that the penalty for teaching without a permit could amount to $192.
Dogen recounted that the rangers described the interaction as an educational warning. He questioned the necessity of the encounter, emphasizing that the court was not in use by others. "Why even bother trying to disrupt a perfectly nice afternoon, father with his children?" he reportedly asked.
San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department spokesperson Tamara Aparton stated that rangers routinely investigate individuals offering instruction on public courts to ensure they are not operating commercially, as paid instruction requires a permit. Aparton clarified that rangers ask questions to distinguish between commercial instructors and those engaging in personal recreation or coaching their own children.
While Dogen acknowledged the city's need to regulate commercial activities, he believes parents teaching their own children should be treated differently. "Raising children in a city as expensive as San Francisco is hard enough," Dogen told Fox News Digital. "When you add law enforcement officers who aren’t friendly, it gets even tougher."
Dogen's primary concern during the interaction was maintaining a calm environment for his children. He suggested, with a touch of humor, that he might carry his children's birth certificates in his tennis bag in the future to prove his parental relationship. He expressed a hope that the incident would encourage city officials to adopt a more family-friendly approach to park rule enforcement, advocating for a welcoming environment for children and families.