Residents at a City Heights senior living facility cleared the first hurdle to implement a curfew at a neighboring park. They say the park is drawing illegal activity near their home. A Park and Recreation Board on Thursday advanced a proposal to partially close the City Heights Square Mini Park after community members complained the public courtyard was a hot spot for drugs, violence and other disturbances.
Tenants and management at Potiker City Heights Residence, an affordable facility for seniors next to the park, pushed for the 9 p.m.-to-5 a.m. closure with the support of business and community groups, including SAY San Diego.
Claudia Ciarmoli, a program a manager for the nonprofit, said tenants cheered the board's decision at the meeting.
"This is just one strategy that will help improve the quality of life of residents and deter the crime that is happening right now," Ciarmoli said.
She said neighborhood groups are also working to plan events at the park to bring more positive activity to the area.
However, not all Potiker tenants agreed that visitors to the park caused problems. One woman who didn't want to be identified said many visitors to the park are homeless and may have nowhere else to go.
The curfew proposal will now go to the San Diego City Council, a city spokesman said.
