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Watch for “Pickin’ on the Pigeon”. Canoe Evansville is having a party on the
Pigeon Creek and Greenway Passage in April. Watch for the date. The event will
include local musicians and bands; a canoe race—“Thunder on the Pigeon”, and
food by the ‘Flying Pigs”. Bring a lawn chair to enjoy the music, and if you
play guitar, fiddle, skins, or especially the banjo, please bring it along to
participate in the open air jam sessions.
SHAME, SHAME, SHAME ON THE PERSON OR PERSONS WHO SET 25 FT. OF BOARDWALK ON FIRE
AT THE HOWELL WETLANDS OUTDOOR EDUCATION CENTER. IF ANYONE KNOWS WHO DID THIS
DAMAGE AND WANTS TO HELP CONTROL THIS TYPE OF VANDALISM PLEASE CONTACT SHIRLEY
JAMES AT 422-0564 OR KRISTIN MORAN AT 499-2952. CONFIDENTIALITY IS ASSURED.
War on Vandalism
The vandalism throughout the city is outrageous and the cost to the taxpayer is
horrendous when the damage is done to government facilities and parks. Recently
several concerned groups met to plan a united and concentrated attack on this
problem.
The following is an outline for future action:
PREVENTION OF VANDALISM
A. ENFORCEMENT
1. We need to bolster communication between all law enforcement agencies
(Evansville Police Dept., Vanderburgh County Police, Park Ranger’s, Prosecutor)
to ensure that vandalism is pursued with consistent results.
a. Assign a Parks Department employee as “Vandalism Liaison” to receive notice
of all park vandalism complaints and monitor their progress through the criminal
and civil processes.
(1) Assist police agencies where appropriate.
(2) Report vandalism suspects to City Attorney for suit.
(3) Share case progress with Mayor, City Council, Parks Board, Neighborhood
Associations, Parks Support Groups.
2. Coordinate patrol efforts between all police agencies with each reporting
agency copying Parks Rangers and Parks Department with offense reports relating
to offenses and offenders in the parks.
B. PREVENTION
1. Park Closures
(a) Immediately close the gate at Moutoux Park from dusk to dawn.
(b) Adopt a dusk to dawn closure of all parks that do not have night time,
lighted activities—and post them (violators are then trespassers).
(1) Get input from Neighborhood Associations on all neighborhood parks before
acting.
2. Increased security – explore
(a) Gating and fencing
(b) Strategic lighting
(c) Security cameras and motion detection devices.
3. Create Park Monitor Program
(a) Coordinate through Neighborhood and Support Groups
(1) Greenway and Northwoods Parks already do this.
4. Coordinated Police Efforts (See A-2)
C. CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT
1. Encourage Support Groups to offer money rewards (Westside Improvement has
done this before.)
2. Communicate with Neighborhood Associations and enlist support.
3. Park Monitor Program (See B-3)
Shirley James, Parks Committee Chair
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