Why Can’t We Fix That: Memorial Park

If you want an honest answer about an establishment, look no further than Trip Advisor.

Memorial Park’s reviews, aren’t too flattering: “Dangerous,” “Not the Best Park Around,” and “Much of the surrounding neighborhood really isn’t safe,” pull up in a quick search.

A KRDO NewsChannel 13 viewer echoed the sentiments, writing, “Can’t this beautiful park be restored?”

The Colorado Springs Parks Maintenance and Operations Manager, Kurt Schroeder quickly points out — the city is spending more money on the park than ever before. In 2009 and 2010, the park budget was slashed by 80-percent. With that, water and fertilizer took the fall.

“We’re still recovering from that setback,” said Schroeder.

The park has been a magnet for crime over the years, too: 28 assaults and four sexual assaults over the past five years, according to CSPD records. Two murders either on — or near — the premises.

According to a Colorado Springs Police spokesperson, officers only patrol at Memorial “as time allows.”

But crime isn’t just isolated to Memorial Park. NewsChannel 13 cameras captured juveniles doing drugs at Garden of the Gods. Bullet holes mark pillars there, too. Then, there’s John Venezia Park off Briargate Parkway — just weeks within opening, vandals tagged the newly-minted bathrooms. Gates now block entrances to both parks.

Schroeder defends the establishments.

“When the sun goes down, negative things happen to occur,” he said.

So, how do we fix that? It’s a societal problem, really. There’s only so much manpower for patrols, gates, and surveillance cameras.

It starts with parents. Talking with their kids about what it means to respect property, themselves, and others.

That’s how we fix that.

Email the team at fixthat@krdo.com