LINCOLN PARK — Lincoln Park residents frustrated by high school students smoking weed in Oz Park vented to neighborhood leaders Tuesday.
At a public safety meeting, neighbors complained that public drinking and pot-smoking had increased in the park at 2021 N. Burling St., where there were also two graffiti incidents last weekend.
"The situation in the last month has really escalated," said Mark Buciak, a member of the Lincoln Central Association, during the meeting at St. James Lutheran Church, 2050 N. Fremont Ave. The gathering was attended by dozens of local residents, as well as Near North District police officials and 43rd Ward Ald. Michele Smith, who served as host with the Sheffield Neighborhood Association.
Buciak led other neighbors in placing much of the blame on Lincoln Park High School students. According to Buciak, students routinely meet in the Emerald Garden at Oz Park midmorning to smoke pot on their way to classes.
Other local residents suggested the high school campus not allow students out for lunch or for breaks between classes.
Lincoln Park High School Principal Michael Boraz said Wednesday he was monitoring the situation.
"We communicate our expectations to our students about being good people and good neighbors, and the vast majority of our students meet these expectations," Boraz said. "If there are specific instances of students violating a CPS or community expectation, we respond with the appropriate supports or consequences as determined by CPS and school policy. We are willing to work with anyone in our community on how to improve our place and role in the community."
The park also was hit with graffiti last weekend. According to the Oz Park Advisory Council, members were able to clean some of it up themselves, but a subsequent tagging on the playlot was so extensive Chicago Park District workers had to come in Monday to paint over the graffiti.
Gang members were blamed for that, and Smith asked police about "graffiti and its role in crime." Other residents asked for police bike patrols in the park.
Near North Cmdr. Paul Bauer insisted that robberies were down in the district from this time last year, and burglaries were level. He said thefts were up, especially thefts from autos or stolen cars.
"Foot patrols are nice," Bauer said. "But they're not the solution. They're a tool that we use."
He added that foot patrols they might give the perception of increased safety, "but I don't know if that really helps your crime stats."
Even so, Bauer said police would be turning their attention to Oz Park.
"We'll increase our patrols there," he said. "We'll get on that."
