/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/dmn/GYSIOPAGKRGOXO3VFI4245WJAU.jpg "Dallas needs to invest in park and trail safety")
Anybody who has lived in Dallas for greater than 15 years is aware of how dramatically our metropolis’s parks system has improved.
There are the entire glorious new downtown parks that modified the shape and performance of the central enterprise district. There are nice spray parks and aquatics amenities that changed getting old swimming pools across the metropolis. And there’s the ever-expanding path system that has grown from lower than 86 miles in 2005 to 177 miles immediately. One other 47 miles are beneath building, with 89 miles to return in future tasks.
Dallas leaders correctly made the choice to spend money on town’s health and beauty with an important parks system.
Now, Metropolis Corridor wants to show its focus to making sure that this funding stays glorious by remaining safe.
Park and Recreation Director John Jenkins is conscious that there’s a worry in some elements of town that trails and parks should not protected. A lot of that is extra notion than actuality, as columnist Sharon Grigsby famous in a chunk earlier this month about murders that police reported, very loosely, as occurring close to Dallas trails.
There are actual considerations, however they’re scattered and remoted, Jenkins instructed us in a current assembly. That features homeless encampments alongside trails and inside wooded areas of parks. It additionally consists of felony exercise in bigger, extra remoted parks.
The park division at one level had its personal police pressure. That was eradicated years in the past. Now, parks officers make do with a dozen rangers and a dozen Dallas marshals who patrol what they will.
Different main cities in Texas have extra sturdy regulation enforcement targeted on parks.
Dallas wants to think about making a higher funding on this space. Secure, clear, well-lit parks and trailheads are essential to the well being of town, particularly in lower-income areas the place individuals can’t add a fitness center membership to the month-to-month price range or who depend on the parks for household recreation and gatherings.
Our parks should not unsafe. However an oz of prevention is price a pound of treatment. Proper now, Jenkins is taking a look at a $2.5 million price range request to start so as to add officers and lighting at trailheads. He would request $3.5 million the next 12 months.
Public security is the inspiration of any metropolis’s success. Including marshals and rangers who may deal with parks might be a pressure multiplier for Dallas police.
Dallas has executed an important job increase its parks and trails. That will probably be for naught if individuals resolve they aren’t protected locations to be. Getting forward of the issue by pushing out felony exercise and shortly addressing encampments will guarantee higher well being and a richer life for all of Dallas.
We welcome your ideas in a letter to the editor. See the rules and submit your letter right here.
