Forest Glen attention pays off for residents

By Denise Dick

Police presence improves Boardman neighborhood

By DENISE DICK

denise_dick@vindy.com

BOARDMAN

Problems that prompted a north-end township neighborhood to plead with trustees for help haven’t been eliminated, but an official of the homeowners’ group reports improvement.

“I think everything has improved,” said Lynn Kirkwood, vice president of the Forest Glen Homeowners’ Association. “It’s not ever going to be 100 percent.”

At an April trustees meeting, about 40 residents of the Forest Glen historic area and surrounding streets expressed worries about increased crime and other problems in the neighborhood of upscale homes near the township’s north end.

The residents voiced concerns about problems with young people walking through the neighborhood, harassing residents. There was one report of a teenager pulling a gun on a couple out walking their dogs. A juvenile was arrested in that incident and charged with menacing.

The township launched a plan to address those problems a couple of weeks later. The plan included increased police presence and training sessions with residents to teach them to protect themselves.

“We’ve had more visibility of officers up there,” said Jason Loree, township administrator.

Kirkwood said she’s seen the difference.

“Even my mailman said he sees two or three police officers while he goes on his rounds every day,” she said.

Problems haven’t been completely eradicated, but there are issues in other areas of the township too, she noted.

Kirkwood said residents still see small groups of young people walking through the neighborhood, but they’re just walking instead of “hooting and hollering” and causing problems.

Seven residents of Jeanette, Oak Knoll and Newport drives and Windsor Road, all streets in or around the Glen, reported their vehicles broken into Tuesday night. The thieves took loose change, sunglasses, a camera and a stereo. No items were reported stolen from some of the vehicles.

There’s been a rash of vehicle break-ins during the last few months in the township and other communities.

Also as part of the plan, township officials said they would hire two more police officers with a goal of beefing up the narcotics-enforcement unit.

Last month, trustees pledged to hire three new police officers this year. The additional officer is to replace a longtime patrolman who will retire next month.

Another measure was a plan to clean up the corner field at Glenwood Avenue and Midlothian Boulevard to help reduce foot traffic and trespassing.

Initially they had talked of mowing the high weeds in that lot which allow people to hide, Loree said. Township officials are looking for a different strategy, though, because those same high weeds act as obstacles for people running from the neighborhood, he said.