Parks are deplored

WILKES-BARRE – The director of the Wilkes-Barre Crime Watch Coalition wants the city to shut down several of its parks because they aren’t safe, or fit, for young children.

Charlotte Raup and members of the Parsons Crime Watch didn’t know the extent of vandalism done to the Parkin Street and Scott Street parks, until they decided to clean the parks last week.

“…When we saw the condition of them, they need to be dismantled and closed,” Raup said. “There’s no way you can clean anything, and we tried to get the graffiti off, but nothing worked. It’s way beyond cleaning up.”

There are large burn holes in the park equipment, making it unsafe for children because they could fall through and get injured, she said.

“And the filthy stuff written on (the equipment) is unbelievable,” Raup said. “We couldn’t get it off. We used acetone stuff, and ripped our hands apart, and it wouldn’t take it off.” Raup said the graffiti, which includes drawings of male genitals and explicit four-letter words, is written in marker.

“They should be dismantled. There is no other choice right now. It’s a shame that people don’t have money for gas, so they take their kids to the park and have to see this stuff. I would never let any of my kids on that (equipment).”

Raup took pictures of the park damage and sent them to city council members Mike Merritt and Bill Barrett. “Nothing has been done (as of Monday) and I’m mad. Those parks are unfit for human habitation.”

Barrett said he talked to Greg Barrouk, assistant to the mayor, about the parks last week.

“He said they rely on summer help, and that the parks would be addressed immediately and send out some people late last week,” Barrett said. “I didn’t get a chance to follow up, but I hope they’re taking care of those problems, especially where the rides (are damaged).”

“We talked last week about putting cameras in parks, which is something I’d like to be seen done, but that’s not going to happen. I think long-term solutions are police patrols.”

“We need police patrols at the park. If there’s no patrols, don’t bother to (keep the park open),” Raup said. “These aren’t little kids in the park at night, it’s older kids between 5 and 10 p.m. We know who they are, but we can’t do anything. We need the police.”

Raup said the coalition reported graffiti and damage in both parks in October when the group held its Halloween party in the Parkin Street park. “It was just as bad then. And it’s not getting any better,” she said.

If the city does not take charge, the problems at the parks will increase and cost the city more money, Merritt said.

“It’s a disgrace,” Merritt said. “What they need to do is patrol the parks, keep a log as to what time they patrolled and how many people were there a couple times a shift.”

Raup said it’s unfortunate the mayor and chief of police refuse to work with the newly formed Guardian Angels.

“If we all sat down and talked, these are the issues, vandalism and graffiti, that we would be able to address,” Raup said. “We’re all on the same page and we’re all working towards the same thing.”

Barrett said the equipment in the parks is fairly new and expensive and would probably be impossible to remove. If repairs can’t be made in enough time, possibly closing down the park while repairs are being made is a solution.

“I’ve gotten complaints from other residents, too, and we shouldn’t be relying on volunteers to (clean up),” Barrett said. “And it’s not just in the parks, it’s other places too. And that’s all the more reason to clean up.”

What’s next…

Wilkes-Barre City Council will meet in work session at 6 p.m. today in council chambers.

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What’s next…

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