AJAX MAN FIGHTS TO RECLAIM PROBLEM PARK

Mullen Park Needs More Lighting And Security To Deter Drug Deals,
Parties, Says Resident

AJAX -- An Ajax man is so fed up with problems at Mullen Park he
showed up at a recent Town council meeting with a garbage bag filled
with debris picked up by local mothers at the neighbourhood park.

Mullen Drive resident Patrick Doyle offered to show councillors the
contents, but Town officials took his word the bag was filled with
condoms, feminine hygiene products, liquor bottles and various other
objects left behind by partying teenagers.

"I live at Mullen Drive in Ajax and the last couple of years we've had
some very serious challenges ... my house is two doors from the park
and we've had an awful lot of instances of youth using our park as a
drug stop," said Mr. Doyle.

In fact, he easily provides a detailed description of exactly how the
local drug deals go down, where the cars stop and what tree the
dealers wait beside.

"The fact that I know this, it happens all the time and I'm fed up. My
point here is to try to do something about it," he told
councillors.

He's also seen cars driving into the park, in the Rossland and
Ravenscroft roads area, with their headlights off.

In addition to the drugs, Mr. Doyle says after hours the park can turn
into a brothel. He points to one tree he's nicknamed the love tree.

"They were having threesome sex right there, why do I need to know
that, I don't need to know that," he said. Mr. Mullen has two
daughters and doesn't want them to see that sort of thing.

Dave Meredith, Ajax's director of operations and environmental
services, said the Town has had a number of community safety-related
calls about the park and as a result, a street light illuminating the
playground area is to be installed within the next couple of weeks.

"So it's imminent in terms of its installation and construction," said
Mr. Meredith.

Mr. Doyle was asked if he thought more lights would solve all the
problems.

"The drug dealing goes on every single day. I respectfully say the
lights will alleviate the drug dealing at least," he responded.

He later added that in terms of the parties, he expects it would deter
the bigger ones.

At a subsequent committee meeting, councillors also asked staff to
consider at least one more light, if not two more, and to trim the
bottoms of the blue spruce trees where the youth were engaging in
sexual activities.

Town officials say the park is on their security force's patrol
route.

Meanwhile, Sergeant Nancy van Rooy, of the Durham Regional Police
Service, said Mullen Park hasn't been identified by police as a
particular problem area but police do try to keep an eye on the parks
in general.

"Parks are a concern for us overall, we've had all kinds of complaints
from citizens and residents about the parks," she said.

In the summer, officers who normally work in schools patrol parks and
trails on bicycles.

She encourages residents to continue to report crimes, including drug
dealing, to police and suggests Crime Stoppers is a good way to do it
anonymously. Residents should provide as much information as they can
such as licence plate numbers and other descriptions. Part of the
problem, said Sgt. van Rooy, is there is a strong market for drugs in
the GTA.

"I can understand the frustration, it's really a cat-and-mouse game,
it's really hard to catch them in the act," she said.

Sgt. van Rooy agrees lighting might alleviate part of the problem and
encourages residents to be active in their community.

"Sometimes I get a sense people are afraid to use the parks ... don't
let them overtake a space that's yours to enjoy," she said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Doyle says he's trying to gauge interest in a
neighbourhood watch, though he expects the park to calm down a bit now
that summer is over.

"It always comes down, except for the drug dealing which is a
year-round event," he said, but he adds that if nothing is done he
expects the same problems with a different group of kids next year.