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... PARK Continued from Page IC neighbors, both businesses and residents, who have very action until after Thursday's public meeting. She also strong feelings about the park being closed, and their reminded them that the city never specified where it voices were not being heard." would place the fencing. The Issue could come to a head Thursday when city But several neighbors said they were led to believe officials meet with the task force at 7 p.m. in the that their recommendations — limiting the fencing to Whiteaker Elementary School cafeteria at 21 N. Grand vegetation along the park's perimeters — would be hon- St. The meeting, originally called to look at long -range ored. strategies for the park, is now expected to include de- Tom Musselwhite, who lives a block from the park, bate about the park fence. said residents' assumptions are understandable. "The Norris said she hopes the meeting attracts a broad city told us from the beginning, 'This is your neighbor- hood problem so you solve it. Figure out what to do and range of neighbors. "We need to get all points of view in let us know; " he said. the room," she said. "So the neighbors get real involved . and then the Earlier this month, some neighbors asked that the city goes and does what it wants to do anyway." troubled park at West Fourth Avenue and Blair Boule- McCarthy said the city's decision to fence off the dirt yard be closed. But on Sept. 9, the day of the scheduled playground area is particularly vexing. "What vegeta- closure, homeless activists moved in and set up camp. A tion are they trying to protect there ?" he asked. day later, six people were arrested for violating city Frank Cortez, another task force member, said he rules prohibiting camping in parks or using them after fears the fencing may provide an unintended haven for 11 p.m. drug dealing and other criminal activity. That situation led neighbors to start meeting again, "Now a few people will jump the fence and use the this time with two facilitators, Karen Tarnow and Neil park for their own personal enjoyment," he predicted. Van Steenbergen, hired by the city at a cost of $50 per „ There's no access to check what's going on in there." hour. The mediators and task force members walked City officials initially indicated that the fence's loca- through the park together last Saturday, agreeing on tion wasn't negotiable, but softened somewhat later in which parts of the park they felt should be placed tem- the day. Lyle said the city is looking at reopening the porarily off - limits. park's small playground area — perhaps as soon as this Tarnow and Van Steenbergen spent Tuesday shut- week — after removing a piece of play equipment that tling between City Hall and the park, where they talked is rotting. with disgruntled neighbors. Several uniformed police The city may also scale back the fencing in later officers also monitored the park scene Tuesday. months, Lyle said, adding, "We're willing to talk about Tarnow urged those gathered at the park to take no it."