Parks has proposed to the neighborhood to remove the shrubs for three straight years but has been met by negative feedback from neighbors. We are happy to revisit the issue if neighborhood consensus can be reached. Additional landscaping and lighting are proposed as well. Park maintenance is deployed to remove, collect all refuse in the park including the playground area six days per week. The only day where it's not possible to provide a daily service is Sunday. Witnessing active drug use or other real time issues should be reported to the police department, which appears to have been done. They are aware of the ongoing issues for the area and have replied as of last week that they would increase patrols. Thank you, BPRW

With all due respect, the maintenance people deployed by the Parks Dept drive trucks into the park and barely get out of their vehicles. It would be amazing if these folks were more of an active presence in the Park, that is not how it comes across.

Further, regarding removal of the shrub, this is a safety issue that needs to be a high level decision. To date, while Parks has been responsive to the wishes of residents to discuss hedge removal, the discussion has been limited to an ad hoc basis. I think if the Parks Dept could come up with a process to involve everyone living around the park that would take the onus of getting to consensus off the shoulders of the residents who desire a safer park. Maybe a safety decision doesn't need to reach consensus.

Right now, the park design encourages dangerous activity. Someone overdosed behind the shrub and people run their dogs inside the playground on a daily basis. People need to be able to see what happens inside the hedge. If it were more transparent people wouldn't think that it's a place where they can go to not be seen. At the very least, Parks Dept should work with the BPD to increase foot patrols as part of creating a safe environment for Burlington residents and other members of the public.

This issue was recategorized from Other to Capital improvements and long-term projects.

BTVparks assigned this issue to Burlington Parks

Hedge removal, playground and landscaping improvements are part of capital improvements planned in the coming two seasons