LA CROSSE, Wis. (WEAU) – After being closed by the city for almost four months, Cameron and Burns Parks in La Crosse were reopened to the public in January.
They were closed last September due to safety issues that involved drugs, alcohol, and other issues.
La Crosse City Councilman from District 7, Gary Padesky, says he thought the city would have a safety plan set in place for the parks by now.
“That’s one thing that’s been a little frustrating. We were told that when the parks reopened, there would be a safer plan. But as of now, i don’t believe that anybody in council has received any word of what the plan is. The big thing for me is i would just kind of like to know, if there is a firm plan in place, what it is so when i get emails or calls i can tell my constituents or people who call what the plan is because a lot of people are curious,”
Sue Graf, executive director of What I Need Now, a local nonprofit that provides essential items to people who are unsheltered, says it’s important for all parks to be opened because they are essential for unsheltered individuals.
“That’s where folks gather to share experiences and talk about different services that they can get. It’s their community gathering place, like some of us gather at our workplace, our schools, or our churches. The park, for our unsheltered friends, is a place to gather and find friends,” says Graf.
Graf adds that doing some things, including adding more surveillance, can help increase safety for everyone sheltered and unsheltered in the parks.
“I think having the neighborhood resource officers strengthen the bonds within our community between the unsheltered and sheltered folks is helpful. And everyone deserves to be safe. The unsheltered are some of the most vulnerable community members and we want everyone to be safe,” says Graf.
The city shared a joint statement with us from the Parks Department, Police Department, and Pathways Home, saying quote:
“The City of La Crosse continues to partner across the community with a variety of city departments, including Parks, Recreation and Forestry, Police and community stakeholders, including Pathways Home, to establish a comprehensive, inclusive safety framework that ensures a secure and healthy environment for all. The temporary closure of Cameron and Burns Parks provided an opportunity to coordinate this approach to address the unsafe behaviors that compromised public safety, including increased violence, fights, drug use, drug overdoses, and excessive trash. Under this framework, we will address root causes of health and safety risks, enforce laws, and focus on supporting people experiencing homelessness who need services and housing, but also allow every community member to enjoy these parks. With this coordinated approach, both parks have reopened for public use. We are committed to keeping these important community spaces safe and welcoming for everyone.”