There are some very serious problems with our parks and all parents of Petaluma should be aware.
I am a daddy on duty a lot so my little 20 month old boy and I go to the parks and library often, places made for children. Sadly, I will not take my son to some of the city's best parks anymore b/c of some really bad activity going on there. These are the parks closest to our neighborhood, which forces us to drive to the other side of town to play at a park.
At Kenilworth Park (next to the library), there are constantly homeless people drinking and smoking and swearing very close to the children's facilities, which of course is not suitable at all for children to play around. At Walnut Park there are also always homeless people smoking, drinking and using foul language way too close to the children's play area. It's not only the homeless though, it is also the vagrant 20-something-year-olds that can't find anything better to do with their time (get a job or go to school you lazy ____ !). Just two days ago when my wife and I took our son to Walnut Park, a truck with a trailer/camper behind it stopped next to the park, literally a stone's throw away from the swings. One by one, seedy, dirty individuals climbed into the passenger side of the truck. Each one ducked under a jacket or backpack, then we saw a flash (obviously from a lighter), and proceeded to blow smoke out of the window. I am blown away by the lack of morals here.
I understand that the Petaluma police dept. has a lot on their hands and plenty of other things to take care of to ensure our safety but... I do not feel comfortable taking my son to a park where there are people (homeless or not) swearing, drinking alcohol and smoking crack (we know it wasn't marijuana). I feel that the city could take some money that is allocated to something that is obviously a waste, and put it towards getting these nasty people away from our children's parks. The parks are for our children, aren't they? Why even have these parks if we can't take our children there? Did the city build these parks for the homeless and/or drug addicts or for the children?
Do any of you other parents agree? Have you NOT gone to the park next to the library b/c there are always homeless people smoking and drinking and doing drugs right there? How perfect is it that there is a great little park right next to the library? And how sad is it that we can't use it safely and comfortably? What a waste of the city's (and our) money.
In San Francisco, you are not allowed to be present in a park area unless you have a child there with you. Maybe we should consider this for our parks and recreation areas that we take our children to. I know the library is a public place but the parks are for our children to play in. I would really like to see our tax dollars at work more for our children's safety rather than fix a couple potholes.
Parents of Petaluma, how can we save our parks?

I agree with you that it's intimidating to visit these city parks sometimes because of said people, but I enjoy sitting on park benches to read and I don't have any children yet... I'm sure there are others out there who are in the same situation.

In fact, I was sitting on a swing in a city park just the other day as there was no one else around, and I think it'd be a shame that just because I'm not under 18 years old (or whatever the definition of "child" is) that I'm not allowed to be there at all.

Just to let you know the City of Petaluma has a very good Recreation, Music and Parks Commission. They met on the 3rd Weds. of the month at 7pm at City hall. The members watch the parks and report any complaints to the commission and staff members. if it is a police matter they report to the Police dept. and if there is revenue extra patrols can be added.
Check the City website or call 778-4380.
With the City's lack of revenue and budget problems, more volunteers are going to be needed to help the neighborhood watch programs and take back the parks. So if you see something that needs to be corrected, then report it. This will keep our parks clean and safe for Petaluma's children.
I have. Happy New Year's!

The Recreation, Music and Parks Commission is in the process of forming an adopt-a-park program. I totally agree that the parks you are concerned about need some help. I would love to see Kenilworth Park turn around-- it is such a great location and has good shade trees in the summer. The best way to change the way these parks are being used is to have a presence at them. People do not seem to use parks for illegal activities if there is an eye on them. The commission recently agreed to recommend that the City Council make our parks smoke-free, this may change things as well. I encourage you to make your concerns known in public comment at a RMPC meeting.

In Sonoma, the city has an Adopt-A-Park and trails program. There are signs at the enterance locations saying who or what organization has adopted the park/trail. This is what Petaluma needs during the "lack of revenue" time we are currently experiencing! With more revenue the City could add additonal parks and more maintenance for existing parks! Great news about the "smoke-free" areas around the parks! I was surprised to have someone smoking at Shollenberger yesterday while I was walking in the fresh air!

Even with abundant police and city resources, the city cannot ensure a good clean family experience at parks. In tough times, expect even less. Only when the will of society becomes strong enough to change this will it happen. If Giuliani can do it for New York, you'd think the people of Petaluma could do it for themselves. When they collectively want it bad enough, it can/will happen. But the city cannot do it without help from the people. 76 Queen, would it be helpful to have a listing of the park liasons for each park on the city website with emails that folks could access with these kinds of specific complaints? And if a citizen observes a crime in a park, they should call it in (there is a specific number 707-762-2727 to call Petaluma Police from a cell phone. Calling 911 from a cell phone can result in delay during call routing) Believe it or not, the police do care about our town and want to be notified so they can do their job.

I agree HM, it takes a village! The phone number I listed is for the Director of the Parks and Recreation Dept. who can find a solution for the park problem asap. Do call the PPD if you witness a crime being committed anywhere in the City. Putnam Plaza downtown has a lot of problems and the merchants have complained to the PPD and the City. I think the solution is to have an accordian (Petaluma's very own instrument) concert! The more the parks are used as Ol'East side pointed out the better! Enjoy!

I am the RMPC liason for Kennilworth Park, McNear Park, Cavanaugh Center,the Skate Park,and the Teen Center. I frequent the Parks usually a few times a month and convey my concerns/ notes to our director Scott Brodhun- he and his staff are incredibly responsive,especially in light of budget constraints.
I would love to see Kennilworth park become a part of the adopt-a-park program as soon as possible. I've spoken to many neighbors in the old east Petaluma neighborhood that are interested. If you want to help make a difference at these parks please let me know and I will help you get involved. The police are also very responsive and regularly patrol the parks- it is important to make them aware of your concerns.
Here is some contact info:
Scott Brodhun:
sbrodhun@ci.petaluma.ca.us
Melissa Abercrombie: oldeastpetaluma@yahoo.com
Best,
Melissa

Thanks, Melissa. I can only hope that daddy on duty and others parents are reading this!
See you around the sandbox!

i AM reading all of the responses - a huge THANK YOU VERY MUCH to everyone who has chimed in, it's all very helpful. i will follow up on the actions you all recommended.

Hello, this is for daddy on duty. I've read all the posts & found the suggestions good. I write the Open Spaces, Natural Places blog for petaluma360.com and follow the activities of our Parks & Rec Dept. very closely. It's winter, so I'm imagining people driving up in trailers and smoking cigarettes, etc. could be related to that. I saw someone sleeping on the floor in the 4th and D post office the other evening when I went in to pick up mail. What does one do? I chose to observe the person, say a prayer and go on my way. Another option would have been to arouse the person and try to see if I could take the person to a shelter or call the Police.

Like daddy on duty and everyone who responded said, these are very difficult times economically in the City. The Parks and Rec Dept. staff, as well as the Police Dept., are strapped to the limit. I imagine things are not going to get any better any time soon. There are always challenges in the City's parks.

Since Petaluma is a mid-sized City with over 50,000 people, I think the small town image desired by many often masks this reality. The thought process of adopt-a-park, similar to what has been done in other locations, is a good one.

We have people in Petaluma famous for complaining about just about everything. That doesn't usually accomplish too much from where I sit. I'm also involved in the nonprofit Paula Lane Action Network, formed in 2000, and we became a conservation nonprofit focused on issues and results, as that is probably going to help everyone the most.

Daddy on duty, I sympathize with your plight. You might want to try the rarely used Westhaven Park off Windsor. It is in a very affluent neighborhood, is a small park, and I understand it is rarely used - just for safety and peace of mind until the adopt-a-park program is in place or you are able to help make a difference in the parks closer to your home.

I appreciate that the Music, Parks & Rec Commissioners report monthly on the parks each Commissioner monitors. Hands-on, getting to work on projects in the parks, organizing the neighborhoods around the parks, etc. may likely be the next step in ensuring that true community makes a difference in the many neighborhoods in the City and on the fringes of the CIty. Good luck, daddy on duty!

To Open Spaces, your words were inspiring.....thank you! We are truly so lucky to live in Petaluma. Where anything is possible!

Have the cops go by the parks as a matter of priority, this has been going on in Petaluma for the last 25+ plus years.
People who have lived here long enough know the Problems, have you fogotten Polly Klass already.
Right across the street from the park with the drugies. If you keep feeding them they will not leave, if you try to help, you might get hurt, PROTECT YOU KIDS AND GRANDKIDS AT ALL TIMES?

No one is suggesting anything, to my reading, other than a higher level of attention, alertness, protection, cleanup and ability to use parks and open space.

Patrolling areas where parks are is the ideal solution, but the budgetary problems in Petaluma likely mean less on the street patrols and citizens having a higher level of attention and willingness to be involved in their own neighborhoods may make a positive difference.

Protecting children and grandchildren at all times is, unquestionably, the highest priority. I'm unsure how the prior person registering a comment concluded otherwise.

daddy - when you are at the park and see illegal activities, call the police. Even if they can't respond while you are there, they will log the complaints. Get enough complaints and you will get them to patrol more often. I believe all of our parks have posted no alcohol or drugs policies.