“After a while when you volunteer and start seeing the damage, even if it is minor, you start looking for it,” Miller said. “And it’s started escalating.”
In the concession stand women’s restroom, already someone has urinated in the foyer area and written a racial slur on the gate within the 24 hours since Miller left the park.
Fresh green paint and a recent power washing have covered up the profanity written on shelter poles and picnic tables, but new writings have already cropped up in many spots. Char marks can still be seen in the grass behind the concession stand and on a shelter picnic table from recent fires.
Miller has begun keeping a log of incidents at the park, whether they were viewed by him or another volunteer or park neighbor. And volunteers have started calling the police more when they see incidents.
Since the end of August, three reports have been filed with the Middletown Division of Police regarding fights between juveniles, according to police records.
It’s not that Miller said he expects the police to take care of all the problems, but that he wants residents to follow the rules at the park.
“We know the police can’t sit around waiting to come down here, so the volunteers do what we can.”
In front of the park’s lone sign reminding residents to clean up after dog were several droppings. Miller said not picking up after pets is another problem at Jacot Park. He has asked City Council to provide more signs regarding dog rules and not allowing motorists to drive up on the grass.
He’s hoping bringing attention to the issues and more education through signage will help curb problems at Jacot Park before they escalate further.
“It’s hard to tell, train and teach when every time you look there are people not doing what they should,” he said. “It’s an ongoing problem at all parks.”
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2843 or jheffner@coxohio.com.
About the Author