Satmar Community Agrees To Eliminate Official Endorsement of Sex Segregated Playground

The New York Civil Liberties Union reported yesterday that the Village of Kiryas Joel, New York, has settled a Freedom of Information lawsuit brought against it seeking information on the alleged sex segregation of a Village public park.  The media last year reported that the Village, which is comprised predominately of members of the Satmar Hasidic Jewish sect, had constructed a 283-acre playground with one area for women and girls (red benches and playground equipment) and a separate blue area for boys and men. (See prior posting.)  In settling the suit (full text of March 26 Stipulation and Settlement Order), the Village confirmed to the ACLU that it does not have a policy of directing, endorsing or enforcing illegal sex segregation in the Village playground known as Kinder Park.  The settlement authorizes the ACLU to conduct two visits each summer for the next three years to check on its compliance. The ACLU says that the Village has removed Yiddish signs that were previously posted instructing visitors about the sex-segregated areas. The Village also agreed to pay $3000 in petitioners' attorneys' fees. Failed Messiah, reporting on the settlement, claims that the playground will remain voluntarily segregated.