Denver officials announced Tuesday they are shutting down Civic Center Park on Sept. 15 for at least two months to address growing safety and sanitary concerns, including needles and human waste.
“It’s not safe to walk through the park,” Scott Gilmore, Deputy Executive Director of Parks and Recreation, told local station CBS4 during a phone interview. “We need to take back the park,” he said, highlighting growing violence and crime. (RELATED: Denver Spends More On Homeless Than its Students And Police)
Denver will temporarily close Civic Center Park starting Wed. “to abate significant public health and environmental health risks,” Denver Parks and Rec says. #9NEWS pic.twitter.com/iyYGiTF2xX
— Noel Brennan (@Noeltbrennan) September 7, 2021
Residents reported 15 crimes in the park within a month, including a homicide on Aug. 6 and two assaults last week, according to data from the Denver Post.
“The current challenges within Civic Center Park have reached a tipping point, creating conditions that put the public’s health and safety at risk,” Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock said in a statement.
“This cannot and will not be allowed to continue,” he added. “This is the people’s park, and we are taking steps so that everyone can once again feel safe and welcomed there.”
Hancock noted increasing amounts of trash, human and hazardous waste seen in the park, as well as graffiti and fire damage to historic structures.
During the closure, the city will clean and restore the park, including upgrading irrigation, surveillance and lighting systems, according to the mayor’s press release. The city will also trim trees, restore turf in the park to combat the rodent problems.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.