Worcester Neighborhood Demands Answers on Park Security Cameras

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Thursday, September 25, 2014

Nicholas Handy, GoLocalWorcester Contributor

Residents of the Main South community are becoming increasingly upset that there have been continual delays to installing security cameras in the neighborhood’s University Park.

These cameras – which in theory will help to cut down on crime by better monitoring the park – were originally in line to be installed in April of 2013.

“This doesn’t have to be the exact date, but as we say in Spanish, “mas o menos,” meaning that we want an approximation,” said City Councilor Sarai Rivera at the most recent City Council meeting. “We have had a lot of great activities come to the park. It’s just something the residents have been talking about and I know it has already been approved so we are looking for a timeframe.”

Rivera also asked if it would be possible to add cameras to Crompton Park, a park that she says has seen twice the amount of crime the University Park has seen as of late.

When Will They Be Installed?

According to John Hill, Communications Specialist for the City of Worcester, the cameras are set to be installed “within the next few weeks.”

Bill Breault, Chair of the Main South Alliance for Public Safety, believes that these cameras cannot come soon enough. Breault is one of the many who has been advocating and supporting the installation of the cameras since 2012, when they originally came up at meetings at Clark University, hoping that the increased prevention of cameras will help to cut down on crime and allow for the park to become a great place for the community.

“On May 14th, [Rob Antonelli, Assistant Commissioner of the Worcester Department of Parks, Recreation, and Cemetery] attended one of our meetings and explained that there were electrical problems and it would take 30-40 days to fix,” said Breault. “We have had a number of issues in the park. There have been a number of shootings and stabbings in the past few months. Rob does a great job, but we need the cameras in there.”

A Growing Issue

The vast majority of crimes taking place in University Park have been connected to youth, a growing area of concern in throughout the city.

Youth crimes – stabbings, shootings, fighting, and more – have been rampant throughout the city to the point that the Police Chief, Mayor, and more are pointing out that something needs to change so that the city does not lose the next generation to a wave of violence and crime.

“Last week the chief came out in the press and said that he was concerned with the amount of youth violence taking place in the city of Worcester, the age of those youth, and some of the violent issues that have evolved in the past month or so,” said Mayor Petty. “The chief never sounds alarm bells so you know it’s a very important issue.”

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