We are sad to share there was a shooting and death inside William Land Park at 1:00 am on August 14. The investigation includes the bathrooms at the preschool in the park next to the mushroom pool and playground.
The Land Park Community Association has been advocating for more safety and security in our neighborhood park for a long time. Due to budget cuts to the park and low police numbers in our city, regular security of our park after hours has been almost non-existent. The lack of park security combined with open bathrooms and gates have contributed to criminal behavior during the evening hours in William Land Park. And due to budget constraints, night patrols are not in the future.
Right now, we are pleased to announce our city councilman Rick Jennings has worked to get approval for City Parks staff to close the Land Park bathrooms from sunset to sunrise. We are speaking with councilman Jennings about implementing more park overnight security measures to help mitigate criminal behavior while our neighbors are sleeping.
Attached are links to the recent news story about this incident:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYrJ2I4RFtg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D11hFyvoo0E
Truthfully, we wish we could say that someone else will handle these issues for the entire neighborhood, but that’s not how a community works. It takes a pro-active approach by a collective group of Land Park neighbors to help improve the safety and quality of life in our park. We need you to get involved or the deterioration of William Land Park will continue.
Here are some things neighbors can do to advocate for William Land Park:
- When you see illegal camping in the park, especially after hours, please report to https://311.cityofsacramento.org/s/. Photos are helpful too. Every report helps with data and decisions about how to use city resources.
- If you are out for an evening walk around the park and see that the bathrooms are open, please send an email to:
- Jackie Beecham City Parks Director: jbeecham@cityofsacramento.org
- Rick Jennings Office: rjennings@cityofsacramento.org
- Watch the city council meetings online to learn what is happening and consider attending a Tuesday night meeting to voice your concerns for 2 minutes during public comment: https://sacramento.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=22
- Watch a Parks & Recreation Commission meeting and consider attending to speak or join them: https://sacramento.granicus.com/viewpublisher.php?view_id=36
- Attend an LPCA Community Meeting, listen to updates from your representatives and share your thoughts and ideas.
- Join the LPCA Parks Committee. Committee members advocate for the park by:
- Working with the City Parks Dept. on Land Park maintenance and safety issues.
- Organize park clean up days and other small community events to show love for our park.
- Support the Land Park Volunteer Corps. and collaborate on projects.
- Work with other park pond/gardening volunteers on projects and advocacy as decided upon.
- Represent the LPCA at city council and park meetings.
The Land Park Community Association is an all-volunteer board of neighbors who advocate for the quality of life in William Land Park and the neighborhood. We are only as active as those who choose to join us. Positive change is possible, but only with pro-active neighbors who show up and do the work.
Neighbors can reach out to us as communcation@landpark.org