EDITORIAL:

Imagine seeing a mother with her baby in a stroller in a public park.

What’s the first thing you think about?

Danger?

Calamity?

Public nuisance?

Is it, “Geez, local government should regulate this kind of activity.”

We’re guessing the answer to the question is: none of the above. Rather, you might take a peek at the baby and soften a bit at the sight of a mother — or several mothers — spending a morning or afternoon in the park with their little ones.

Newport Beach officials don’t see it this way.

They’re trying to force Zoe Bertoia, owner and operator of Stroller Strides, a popular exercise class for new mothers, to pay for a permit.

The city has had ongoing issues with Stroller Strides because the business is not authorized to use city parks and has not obtained the proper permits, said Laura Detweiler, Newport Beach Recreation and Senior Services director.

“We’ve spoken to them…” Detweiler said. “They have to come into compliance if they are going to use parks for business.”

The situation came to a head one Saturday a few weeks ago when city parks and recreation officials called the police on a Stroller Strides that was meeting in Bob Henry Park and threatened to have the fitness instructor arrested for trespassing.

To us, this smacks of the worst kind of bureaucratic meddling.

What, we have to wonder, is the downside of mothers, babies in tow, exercising in a park?

Why, we have to ask, does the city need to get its cut of the money — for a service rendered — made by Bertoia.

In basketball terms, this a “no harm, no foul” situation.

And a no call — doing nothing, letting things take their course — seems to be the best prescription at this juncture.