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Parents concerned about drug, prostitution activity at Westside park

Parents are concerned about the amount of criminal activity at a park where their children play.

Thomas Jefferson Park on the Westside is spacious, complete with ballfields, swings and a playground for kids.

But at night, parents say there is drug activity and prostitution.

“I see things I shouldn’t be seeing on a daily basis when moms are bringing their kids to play during the day,” said Gina Fowler, a mother who is also president of the Marietta Athletic Association.

Fowler tells Action News Jax children too often are finding drug needles and syringes around the park, even on the ballfields.

Parents even showed Action News one of the syringes on the ground. It’s inside a fenced-off area.

“When they come to a public park like this, you shouldn’t have to tell your kids to watch out for needles or other things,” she said. “It’s just not fair.”

One man lives by the park and didn’t want to be identified. He tells Action News Jax reporter Kevin Clark that prostitution is also a nightly occurrence.

“It’s every day,” the man said. “People pull up here, girls walk out, do their thing and leave.”

The concerns have prompted action from the city of Jacksonville.

The city plans to install a gate on one side of the park to try to cut off some of the after-dark activity.

In an email obtained by Action News Jax, Parks and Rec Director Daryl Joseph told a concerned neighbor he’s requesting increased patrols in and around the park.

Fowler tells Action News Jax she’s already had to start locking up the park’s bathrooms at night.

“I don’t want to keep it closed because I want the people to be able to enjoy it,” said Fowler. “But at the same time, we have to keep our kids safe.”

Fowler suggested more lighting around the park to deter criminals at night.

“Even adding just a few lights in the middle of the park would make a huge difference,” she said. “It would just keep people out of the park.”

Action News Jax reached out to District 12 Councilman Doyle Carter, who has worked with the community through the safety concerns. He said adding more lights in the park is a possibility.