This park needs some better monitoring. There is a growing homeless community just on the other side of the fence with TONS of garbage littering that area. Naturally it spills over to this park, and I have found empty beer cases and broken glass bottles scattering the place. Normally I've visited this park in the morning with my family and dog, and the trashes will be stuffed to the brim (often more beer bottles.) My husband once saw a man giving himself a sink-shower, and my kids have come across some of those xL beer cans on the children's play structure.
There actually is a lot that this park has which would make it great if it wasn't for some of the people who frequent there, which lends itself to my other complaint about a group of what seems to be 'usuals' who I've seen every morning I've gone to this park. They are older folks who gather at the picnic table near the basketball courts alongside the walking path, and they allow all their dogs off leash. It wouldn't be such a big deal if the dogs were better behaved, but they aren't, and the owners don't have good control of them. Most the dogs are lazy, older, out of shape, and smelly, (sort of like their owners,) so it's really only when you're needing to walk by that they're a bother. My kids would ride their bikes and scooters around the loop, and each time having to pass by the group they allowed their dogs to intimidate and go after my girls. Sure the folks would yell at their dogs, ineffectively, but let it keep happening. Not only that but when I have gone by (it's the pathway to get to the dog park) with my dog, they'd act like we were troubling to them because of how it meant they had to get up and lease their dogs to curtail them getting aggressive with my pup. Also, I noticed how on more than one occasion an owner from the group being conveniently unaware when their dog was pooping.
Why these people can't just set up shop at the picnic table within the dog area, I'll never understand. I really hope that eventually they all get ticketed, because they just don't care and are not responsible with their dogs, much less considerate of others. I suppose if their presence keeps the homeless population at bay there in the mornings, then that's seeing the positive; but really this area needs just A LOT more police presence or something done by the city. Would NOT leave valuables in your car nor hang out here alone. read more