International Square Park To Be Revamped
Park Plagued With Problems In Past
A while back, a community committee came together to brainstorm on how they could make the park a better place.
They presented their findings Wednesday to the City Council. KERO 23 presented the findings to some of the people who actually use the park. It did not go over well.
People aren't bothered by what is in the plan, but by what isn't.
The problem-plagued park now has a revitalization plan of its own. There are five steps that the community service committee hopes will clean up the corner lot -- a longtime gathering place for the homeless and those down on their luck.
Step one is to keep the park open. That puts an end to the rumors that the city was going to close it down.
Step two of the new proposal is to fence the park in. But the people KERO 23 spoke to Thursday said that this isn't a zoo, and they aren't animals. They don't need to be fenced in, they said.
Many people are also upset that they weren't consulted.
Step three deals with the enforcement of ordinances that govern gatherings in the park.
Step four calls for better communication with the rescue mission.
Step five focuses on the clean up of hotels in the area.
But, according to park goers, the five-step plan is missing a step.
"I think there should be public restrooms just like in any other park. That way they'd stop people from urinating on the fence," one person said.
There are no restroom-type facilities at the park, and that's what many of the people who visit International Square said the park needs.
The five-step plan will now have to be presented to the City Council for approval. It is scheduled to happen the first week of September.
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