Party Park Right in the middle of high crime area

08 Dec, 2013

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ROCKFORD, IL – Flashing lights, crime scene tape, and men in dresses are ok, but the gun shots and stabbings are becoming too common for the neighbors around Party Park to get comfortable with. The community wants to see it stopped.

“This is a good park. I grew up in this park and I’d like to see it back the way it was,” said Diane Marshall, President of the Party Area Neighborhood Association. “When I was little I came here all the time but now I have to go through a very high crime area just to get here. I would like to see more patrol people here.”

In spite of the recent crime trend, these community members and their leaders refuse to give up. Instead, they believe things can be turned around.

“We’ve done a lot in the park, but more needs to be done we light candles ,” expressed Tyrone Jett. “Our main goal is to have more parties than wars in the park,” said Jett.

After the early August shooting across from the park, police said they would be increasing their presence in the Party Area. Still, even the community knows this isn’t a patrol problem and it won’t be solved by police alone. “We need the fire dept and maybe some armed aldermen,” offered Mr. Jett.

We here at ole RKFD News have provided a map. You do the rest.