The lights were damaged by flooding, and the park has become a haven for drug deals and other crime, officials and residents say.
By: Linda Seida
STOCKTON The Borough Council has decreed there shall be light.
The town’s park has not been illuminated at night for more than a year, according to Mayor Stephen Giocondo. He said the lights were damaged by the flood that swept through the area in 2006.
Council President Michael Hagerty, however, told the council the flood and resulting damage occurred during a flood earlier this year.
Either way, repairs soon will be made to return them to working order. The council agreed to the repairs during a meeting June 25 after a discussion of safety and liability concerns that touched on drugs in the park and police and emergency services access.
Despite the lights remaining in non-working order since the flood, the borough has been paying about $80 a month to a utility for the electric service, Mayor Giocondo said.
The only vehicle entrance to the park, which the mayor said has no official name, is through adjacent Ferry Street.
Residents there are seeing "visitors after dusk," Mayor Giocondo said.
There is a gate, but it does little to keep visitors out after dark because it remains open. Even if it were closed nightly, pedestrians could gain access to the park if they trespassed over private property.
State police, who patrol Stockton because the borough does not have its own force, recommended the gate remain open, according to Mayor Giocondo.
The police said they "can’t roll in" in the event of a call or emergency, the mayor said.
The council agreed to keep the gate open and to repair the lights.
"We can get them back," Mr. Hagerty said of the lights. "The key is as simple as calling JCP&L."
The decision, however, led to concerns over whether lighting the park would encourage more unwanted nighttime visitors.
There is no ordinance on the books that says visitors are not permitted after sundown, although there is a sign on the open gate saying as much. The only ordinance pertaining to the park is one that says no dogs are allowed, according to officials.
There is "nothing to give police the teeth to enforce the park being closed at dusk," Mayor Giocondo said.
"If we do an ordinance, then the police will be able to enforce it," Borough Attorney John Bennett said. "Right now they’d be asked to enforce signage."
"Right now, it’s black as midnight on our street," said Councilman Brian Hurff, who lives on Ferry Street.
When the park was lit, the spill of light never caused a problem for Ferry Street residents, according to Mr. Hurff.
"We are more concerned with the security of the park as it pertains to the security of our street as well," he said.
The park has a "history of drug dealing" as well as the "trash cans full of beer bottles" and the "evidence of partying," Mr. Hurff said. "That park is notorious for drug dealing."
Even the aesthetics of the park have suffered, according to Mayor Giocondo.
"Somebody did a whole bunch of ‘doughnuts’ there," he said. "It’s all torn up."
In addition to the concerns over safety and police access, the council also was concerned about the town’s liability if the park remained dark.
"The insurance company says if you have lights that worked, and they don’t work today, either take them down or energize them," Mr. Hagerty said.
"If we are paying for lights, they may as well work," Mr. Hurff said.

