MPD officers and residents team up to “take back” Stewart Street Park
Stewart Street Park in Madison near Pension Row had fallen into disrepair and over time became a hub of loitering and criminal activity.
“We were getting complaints of the park not being very habitable,” said MPD Community Relations Officer Teresa Taylor-Duncan. “There was a lot of criminal activity. There were also reports of kids being in the park after dark things going on there that were not good. It was a mess.”
Madison Police Sergeant Greg Dees took action. He led a group of first and second shift officers to the park in April for what they dubbed as “take back the park” day.
What they found were graffiti laden tables and playground equipment, trash, drug paraphernalia, broken bottles and discarded alcohol containers. Parts of some of the playground equipment were broken and dangerous.
“The park was just in horrible condition,” Taylor-Duncan said.
Talking to some of the residents around the park, officers found out it had become a gathering place for people conducting drug transactions.
Together, with the residents in the neighborhood, the officers transformed the park in just one afternoon. After less than one hour, the trash was removed and Madison Parks and Recreation responded to cover up or eradicate the graffiti and repair the dangerous playground equipment. They also put an extra trash can in the park to help keep it clean.
Taylor-Duncan said the police increased patrols around the park to keep it safe. “Since cleaning up the park, we have made four cases and three arrests for drug activity in this park,” she added. “We also gave several warnings for trespassing after dark.”
“When I went back to follow up, the park still looks clean. It looks great,” Taylor-Duncan said. “All of the playground equipment is functioning and working really well. I spoke with several of the neighbors who live next to the park and they were very impressed. They said that the traffic had been cut down, and rarely saw anyone over there except kids enjoying the park. They were very pleased with the progress we had made.”
Taylor-Duncan said this is what community policing is about.
“Graffiti of any kind opens the door to the ‘broken windows’ theory,” she said. “The theory suggests that methods targeting minor crimes such as vandalism and public drinking help to create an atmosphere of order and lawfulness, thereby preventing more serious crimes.”
The Madison Police welcomes residents to let them know of similar places throughout the city where some attention is needed. “We want them to be comfortable making an email request or a phone call and letting us know what is going on,” Duncan said. “That is what community policing is. We invest in the community and want to help make it better.”
One way community policing works is through Neighborhood Watches. A public informational meeting is being held tonight, July 16, 6-7 p.m., at Madison City Hall.
“We want anyone who has a Neighborhood Watch or is interesting in a Neighborhood Watch to come out,” Taylor-Duncan said. “We can help residents establish their watches or revitalize one already in existence. We are not going to run their watches, but we can give them some training and resources and hear ideas they may have. We want to help get everyone on the same page and let them know who we are and how we can help.”
If you cannot make it to the meeting, help is always available through the Madison Police Department. You can email Teresa.taylor-duncan@madisonal.gov for more information.
