It’s a Park Thing… Or Is It?

Asheville City Officials, concerned community members, and local business owners debate the issues surrounding Triangle Park.

The first sign that something was amiss was… well, we’re not quite sure.

from Staff Reports

 While people congregate in other parks around the city, a memo was circulated from city representatives about a meeting at the YMI Cultural Center to discuss Triangle Park on the Block. What are the problems facing the park, the park users, city staff, the police, and the neighborhood?  

Clearly, the city’s Neighborhood Coordinator, Marsha Stickford, was trying to get a handle on the situation, to identify concerns about the park, its users, and the area. By her own admission, it has changed a lot over the last ten years – after all, she was there on site as dusk became dark.  

Among the park “regulars” there were representatives of the Just Folks
organization. For five years they have been working as a grass-roots
community endeavor to provide free seasonal concerts (popular music and
gospel), family-oriented activities including games for children, and
food. A more accurate description of the group might be termed
“park-roots,” for this gives a sharper focus on where the group affixes
itself in the neighborhood context.

Law enforcement Resource Officer Stepp spoke about six major concerns
about the park:  1) open containers and alcohol consumption; 2) drug
use; 3) drug dealing; 4) fighting; 5) panhandling, and 6) public
urination. Beyond the “hardscape” issues, it was the human
relationships that provoked the most heated conversation – the dire
need for much better communication and better treatment from law
enforcement.

Among the challenges raised by public participants was the question of
singling out Triangle Park. Someone in the crowd called out, “What
about that mess you got going on in Pritchard Park?” Then, tensions
flared. The community, however, felt they were being unfairly targeted
and pre-judged. A feeling of “them” and “us” was apparent.

There were other voices in the mix, some of whom tried to take control
of the meeting and shut out the contributions of less vocal
participants – some of whom had every bit the experience and knowledge
giving them equal entitlement to speak.

Will Triangle Park, located on South Market Street in the ‘Historic Block District’ be the next piece of land to go?

Other attendees offered to help, but words that had one meaning at the
point of origin took on a wholly different significance at the point of
reception. One person offered that the way the streets were configured
around the park, it appeared that the park was “leftover.” What the
community heard was that the people were leftover.

The meeting was again called to order, and as people settled into
places and seats, the concerns behind the call to meet did shake loose
at last. Some voiced that police officers were treating the park
patrons with “negative expectations.” One person spoke about a time
during Goombay when officers surrounded the park, and their general
demeanor was described as intimidating.

With all that’s been said and done, will the park be taken away? That
is the question. There is no other place of such special significance
where these long-standing friends can meet.  But, for the present,
people are left to speculate on what “a lot of complaints” mean
relative to Triangle as opposed to other park incidents.

The Urban News wants to know your opinions about Triangle Park. Should
it go, or should it stay? Email us at: [email protected]. A survey
will be published in a future issue and on our Web site,
www.theurbannews.com.