East Park in Logan has been going downhill lately, some city residents say.

There is some disagreement on whether improved lighting at the park would help.

East Park in Logan has been going downhill lately, some city residents say.

There is some disagreement on whether improved lighting at the park would help.

LOGAN — Logan city residents addressed city officials on the state of a Logan park at this past Tuesday’s Logan City Council meeting.

East Park, at 501 E. Main St., is not even four years old, but has already seen rapid decay, residents reported. The park is not owned by the city, but rather the Logan-Hocking Board of Education, according to the Hocking County Auditor’s website.

Audra Armstrong, a local Head Start teacher, reported that not only is there alleged ongoing drug use, animal abuse and vandalism occurring at or near the park, but that she knows of families who no longer feel safe going to the park.

The families she works with at Head Start are those who need the park the most, Armstrong expressed; often lower-income, they live in apartments or affordable housing, where they lack their own yards or play spaces — and sometimes they lack vehicles, too, therefore can only access recreation areas within walking distance.

“And that really breaks my heart because now our families that we’re serving can’t go to a park and play with their kids,” Armstrong said. “They don’t have backyards. They don’t have front yards, they don’t have any room for their kids to play.”

Armstrong said that her household has installed cameras “because our vehicles are getting stuff thrown at it. And rocks thrown at our vehicles; people taking sticks and hitting your animals with it.” The park is often occupied by teenagers, even after dark (when the park closes), she said.

Armstrong also said that she’s heard from the park’s neighbors alleging that underage alcohol consumption is going on nearby, as well as marijuana use. She also reported that witnesses nearby said teenagers have been seen playing with knives, “like they’re gonna stab each other.” She admitted she no longer feels safe in her neighborhood.

In August of last year a baby swing was stolen from the park, its Facebook page reported. According to the Logan Police Department, there have been about 10 police reports for calls to East Park this year; ranging from disorderly conduct to lost wallets and phones.

In March, a juvenile complaint was filed in regards to a fight; the LPD issued a warning. In April, a woman called claiming that kids at East Park threw rocks and hit her vehicle.

Later that month, the LPD responded to a call reporting a fight at the park; three minors were either bystanders or involved, as well as one adult male. One minor was given a disorderly conduct warning, according to the police report. A few days later, the LPD responded to another call regarding disorderly conduct, when, again, officers issued a warning.

In May, the LPD responded to another disorderly conduct call, however, apparently arrived at an empty scene. Two days later, a woman called “and advised juveniles at East Park have the post ripped off the fence and are carrying them around.” An LPD officer arrived a few minutes later and reported that “No post appears to be missing.”

Again, in late May, the LPD responded to a disorderly conduct/juvenile complaint call, but again, did not issue any warnings; apparently officer(s) arrived at another empty scene.

In June, a mother and her son (a minor) came into the police department to report a possible assault.

The boy had dodged a punch from another minor and met with his mother to then go to the police station. The mother inquired as to how to obtain a restraining order, and the LPD advised she contact the county prosecutor.

And most recently, on Aug. 20, another mother spotted her missing child at the park, who had been reported missing the night prior.

Councilman Jim Robinson asked Armstrong on Tuesday if things had deteriorated especially within the past few months, to which Armstrong said yes. Robinson said that this is likely due to the death of Jim Downs, a local man who helped maintain the park. “He kind of kept an eye on that place,” Robinson said.

Damon Kuhn, who founded the park along with Andrew McGhee (who could not attend Tuesday’s meeting due to an emergency, Kuhn said), also spoke before the council on Tuesday. He said he has requested a light be installed in the park; American Electric Power Ohio informed him that the light pole at the park belongs to the city.

However, Logan Mayor Greg Fraunfelter told The Logan Daily News Friday that AEP is actually the owner of the light pole, therefore “We can’t add anything to it;” the city just pays the power bill. A light installment won’t be a quick fix, he explained, due to the multiple parties involved.

“We;ve got to talk with the school and possibly put up a light pole,” he said.

On Tuesday, Kuhn told the council that since the park was built he has replaced two swings, the second time because “a little girl got in there to get a video — a Tik Tok — and had to get cut out by the local fire department” (by press time Friday The Logan Daily News had not yet heard back from the Logan Fire Department to confirm this and when it occurred).

Kuhn said Tuesday that he takes the destruction “personally” – “This breaks my heart,” he said of the damages. He stressed that the park was designed to be accessible for children with disabilities.

A particular wheelchair-accessible gate was damaged, pieces of which were used to damage the rubber mat as well as a handicap-accessible table, Kuhn said Tuesday.

The park received “$25,000 from Trans Canada, to put (the mat) in there — so kids with wheelchairs can go in there,” Kuhn told the council Tuesday. “I know two families – that’s why that red swing was put in there, specifically for one little girl – and it saddens me that I hear from those people that they can’t go down there and be a part of that park.”

Additionally, signage at the park has been removed. Kuhn said he’s to re-mulch the park soon, and that he’s been in touch with park equipment providers for paint touch-ups; but other parts of the park are not so easy to fix.

Kuhn implored the city Tuesday night to put some money into the park, emphasizing the need to fix the park’s light pole. The Logan Daily News was unable to reach Kuhn on Friday for additional/updated comment in time for publication.

Logan-Hocking School District Supt. Monte Bainter said Friday that the board of education is aware of complaints. “I’ve had a couple calls into here about kids hanging around the park, and that’s after hours... so I am aware of some of that,” he reported.

However, there is no plan to install or fix the light at the park, Bainter explained. “I do not plan on putting a light there,” he said. “Because what happens when you put lights there, that would just keep people there all night long.”

A 2016 controlled study by the University of Chicago found that when half (20) of 40 New York City Housing Authority public housing developments received new lights, they “experienced crime rates that were significantly lower than would have been the case without the new lights.”

However, in 2014 Bloomberg described lighting as a crime reduction strategy as a “seemingly endless debate,” citing that different studies have shown different results over the decades; some have found that increased lighting is correlated to increased crime.

Bainter said he would possibly look into installing a security camera, though he would want to consider first if it would “just get vandalized. I’d have to look into that a little more.” The immediate action he is going to take, he said, is to put up anti-trespassing signage; from there, the LPD can enforce.

“It’s unfortunate that it’s a fantastic park for our youth and our community, it’s unfortunate that we have to start looking at some of these things and the vandalism that’s occurring there — not respecting what the park was intended for,” Bainter said.

The East Park can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/eastparklogan/ and its website at www.eastpark.info/.

Email at kjohnson@logandaily.com.

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