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With friends’ help, Wedgewood Park proves inviting
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WELCOME TO WEDGEWOOD: Wedgewood Park was purchased by Austintown Township in the late 1990s
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HAPPY MEMORIES: Robert McIntyre, who has lived on Lancaster Drive near Wedgewood Park in Austintown since the 1960s, said he played in the park as a teenager, as did his children. He said he’s happy to see the park reopened for current residents to enjoy.
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The Vindicator/Geoffrey Hauschild Basketball court at Austintown Park. 10.9.2009
Residents are happy with the upkeep and police patrol at the park.
By Elise Franco
AUSTINTOWN — Heightened police patrols around Wedgewood Park has residents happy to see the park up and running again.
Police Chief Bob Gavalier said some residents who live in the park area have called to report vandalism since the park’s reopening, but the vandalism has lessened since the department recently beefed up its patrols.
“We walk the park every day before it’s locked up,” he said. “Sergeants have been down there, and I’ve been down there myself.”
He said the park gate is locked at dusk.
The park, purchased by the township in the late 1990s, was revamped beginning in 2004 by a group called Friends of Wedgewood Park.
Township Trustee Lisa Oles said that when the group formed, the township set aside $25,000 to help clean up the park and purchase equipment — so, she understands why residents want to keep the area clean.
“There was just a lot of mischievous things that went on down there as far as things being stolen and garbage being thrown around,” she said.
Township Park Supervisor Joyce Gotren said increased patrols may have alleviated most of those activities.
“The vandalism is not what it has been in the past ... I will say that it’s actually decreased because the police department has increased their attention over there,” she said. “The park department employees go there on off hours to walk that park randomly on weekends and evenings.”
Gotren said the park will be locked up for the winter around Nov. 1. She said it’s the only park out of Austintown’s five that is shut down during the year.
Robert McIntyre, whose backyard borders the park’s property, said he’s happy with the police activity in the area.
“They come down and go in and walk around and then go back out,” he said.
McIntyre said that as a teenager he played in the park and never worried about vandalism or safety. He said the children who play there now should feel the same.
“I don’t think there was a lot of vandalism when I was a kid, and the park is still nice,” he said. “The little kids come down and play and have a good time.”
Kathy and Jim Higham, 38-year residents of Lancaster Drive, live next to the park’s entrance and said they haven’t noticed trouble at the park for many years.
“I think it’s nice that it’s revitalized because the young people who move in have a nice place for their children to play,” Kathy Higham said. “Vandalism isn’t like it used to be, and the police come to lock [the park] up every night.”
A few of Wedgewood’s wooden picnic tables have names carved in them, and a tree and trash can are spray-painted with symbols, but Gotren said this isn’t the only park to face such issues.
She said the 9/11 Memorial Park on Racooon Road and Township Park on Kirk Road have experienced vandalism in the past as well.
Though not minimalizing the vandalism, Gotren said, “That’s the nature of vandalism and the nature of parks in general. ... It’s not anything that doesn’t happen at other parks.”
Gavalier said Wedgewood Park may be more of a target because it’s more secluded than the others.
“It’s surrounded by woods on three sides, so the kids in there can see our cars coming, and they just run into the woods, and we can’t see them,” he said.
Oles said neighbors of Wedgewood and all the parks in Austintown should pay closer attention to who is spending time in their parks.
“I think the residents need to step up a little bit and call the police department if they see anything suspicious,” she said. “Unfortunately, when you have kids out in late hours, things like that will happen. Our police can’t be everywhere at all times.”
efranco@vindy.com