Fights, Disturbances in McNair Park Concern Officials

Officials are hoping new recreational programs they are launching at McNair Park will help stave off some of the problems they’ve been having with youth in that area. 

In recent months, rangers have responded to more than 450 calls for service in . 

Most of the calls have been for issues that arise at the park’s “Sport Court,” an area that draws many young people, Chief Ranger Todd Kassabaum told park board members Wednesday.

The number--454--seems great but it includes traffic stops and issuing parking tickets, he said. 

But the number also includes noise disturbances, juvenile problems, liquor violations, property damages and fights in progress, he said. “There’s a few assaults in there,” he added. 

“Have we seen an increase?” Kassabaum said. “I do think we’ve seen an increase when you’re talking 'bout 454 . . . calls for service at McNair in a 12-month period.”

The “Sports Court” has a playground, basketball courts and an in-line skating area. 

“In the Sports Court case, it’s not that they’re not using it because they are. It’s just the element that’s there,” he said.

Many of the issues police are dealing with involve vulgar language, disturbances and a few fights, Kassabaum said in an interview after the meeting. 

The problems arise mostly in the evening with some 100 to 125 youth hanging out on the nearby parking lots, he said. 

“We’re having kids from some different areas," he said. "We’ve got some kids from St. Louis who are coming over. It’s not always those kids either. You have a diverse population into basketball...just not getting along. They’re competitive, and things happen.”

Three rangers, including a sergeant, patrol the park, Kassabaum said. However, that doesn’t mean the sergeant is in the park for an entire eight-hour shift as he may be called to another park, he added.  Typically, the police department gets six to seven dispatch calls for McNair per ranger, per night, Kassabaum said.

Still, rangers are making traffic stops and giving warnings as they try to identify the problem, Kassabaum said.  “However, you’re not seeing them writing a ton of tickets.  We don’t want to be strictly ticket writers out there.”

Board member John Walendy asked if the city could add a part-time retired police officer to help at the park during the times the kids fill the area. 

But Kassabaum and Parks Director Maralee Britton said budget considerations make that unlikely. And putting a security guard there wouldn’t help either because the person must have the authority to make arrest.

Instances where foul language is being used, rangers can tell the offender to leave but using foul language is not “an arrestable offense,” Kassabaum said.

Hockey programs which have already started and basketball programs officials hope to launch in the coming weeks should help bring order to the area, he said. “I think that’s going to help tremendously.”

Kassabaum said there still will be time for non-league use of the courts but that having a structured program should help to create a “controlled environment with our staff.”

He said he will continue to monitor the situation. “We have taken some actions. We’re looking at other actions to take.

“We’re working to a resolution of that problem,” he said. “There are just a few hiccups here and there that we have to deal with.”