Neighbor wants South Walton park closed
Just off the Choctawhatchee Bay in South Walton sits North Eden Park. A resident claims that small park is causing big problems, and he's asking county commissioners to make some changes.
"To me, it's a cut and dried issue," said Jason Polancich.
Polancich lives just beside the park and said over the past few years, the park and the people who inhabit it have become a nuisance.
"Every week, we have an incident in the park," said Polancich.
The incidents range from alleged drug activity, guns discharged, even affecting his own property. Polancich provided News 13 surveillance footage showing a man robbing his dock of fishing equipment.
"We never really feel comfortable in the house, even with the fence," said Polancich.
Records from the Walton County Sheriff's Office show about 20 security checks involving the area and a handful more suspicious vehicle or person calls over the past year. Polancich said other calls including the gunfire and theft are also related to the park.
"We've tried a lot of things," said Polancich. "We tried a mediated approach. Putting up lights, the fencing, the right-of-way. Putting up signs. Doesn't stop anyone. So, at this point the park needs to be closed. The harm outweighs the good."
Several other people in the neighborhood said there had been a problem about a year ago but hadn't noticed anything recently. Polancich will address the Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday at 9 a.m. at the South Walton Annex about the issue.
Just off the Choctawhatchee Bay in South Walton sits North Eden Park. A resident claims that small park is causing big problems, and he's asking county commissioners to make some changes.
"To me, it's a cut and dried issue," said Jason Polancich.
Polancich lives just beside the park and said over the past few years, the park and the people who inhabit it have become a nuisance.
"Every week, we have an incident in the park," said Polancich.
The incidents range from alleged drug activity, guns discharged, even affecting his own property. Polancich provided News 13 surveillance footage showing a man robbing his dock of fishing equipment.
"We never really feel comfortable in the house, even with the fence," said Polancich.
Records from the Walton County Sheriff's Office show about 20 security checks involving the area and a handful more suspicious vehicle or person calls over the past year. Polancich said other calls including the gunfire and theft are also related to the park.
"We've tried a lot of things," said Polancich. "We tried a mediated approach. Putting up lights, the fencing, the right-of-way. Putting up signs. Doesn't stop anyone. So, at this point the park needs to be closed. The harm outweighs the good."
Several other people in the neighborhood said there had been a problem about a year ago but hadn't noticed anything recently. Polancich will address the Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday at 9 a.m. at the South Walton Annex about the issue.
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