Neighbors, police meet to discuss safety concerns at East Austin park

AUSTIN, Texas — Concerns over safety at Edward Rendon Senior Park brought neighbors and police together Monday night in East Austin.

For some residents, Sundays at the park are about community and culture. Others say the weekly gatherings have led to growing problems.

Dozens of people attended a community safety meeting at Martin Middle School led by Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis, where residents shared their experiences and what they hope will change.

Sandy Boone, a Rendon Park neighbor, said, “There have been several neighbors that live close to the park that have had complaints.”

Neighbors report ongoing trouble near the park, including unsafe driving and loud crowds.

Another East Austin resident said, “We often experience the revving and unsafe driving; for us, it feels like it’s getting worse.”

Every Sunday, groups gather to show off their cars. Some describe the gatherings as a neighborhood tradition, while others say they have become dangerous.

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A police officer at the meeting said, “We are aware that some of the bad actors are not a part of the car club, and there are talks that we’re going to be working on to see if we can get some type of meeting with the car club owners.”

Officials say it is not just car enthusiasts who attend the park; outsiders sometimes engage in reckless behavior.

An East Austin resident added, “I grew up in East Austin and over the years I’ve seen more people have been shot, have been hurt, it’s always on Sundays.”

Between March and August, Austin police responded to nearly 160 calls for service on Sundays, including 34 for reckless driving and four for shots fired.

Bertha Rendon Delgado, granddaughter of Edward Rendon Sr., said she wants the park to remain a safe place for the community. “We don’t want gun violence here at the park,” she said, adding, “The people that call this park home, we want them to still love it and honor it and enjoy it.”

Chief Davis said maintaining safety requires cooperation between police and the community. “How do we all work together to ensure this happens and continues to happen, this show weekly, but is done safely?” she asked.

Boone added, “Let people enjoy the park, but without things getting out of hand.”

Police say they are now assigning four officers to the car show each weekend and working with city officials to redesign some nearby roads to improve safety.