Abbott Park not safe or clean (Dangerous & unsanitary)
On August 28, 2012 residents of the Roseland Heights community met in Abbott park for a community bike ride. Abbott Park is located across from the 95th Street Red Line Station which makes it easy to reach by "L". However there were all kinds of loiters on 95thand State across from the station. This was somewhat intimidating. There is new landscaping around Cultural Center so riders who arrived early went to view the new plantings they could smell urine as they walked around the Cultural Center, There was a homeless man camped in the park. The dumpers (over filled) as you drove into the parking lot are not very inviting and there was lots of trash, broken bottles, paper and used baby diapers in grass and play area. The tour leader had to keep telling members to watch the glass (there was lots of broken glass on walks)
It has been reported to me that people are using the park after closing time (10:00 pm) and there is a 11:00 pm (old closing time) sign still on west fence of park.
It is sad that our community has a park that the residents North of us (West Chesterfield) and the residents in the community in which the park is located will not use the park. Residents said they use the Senior Center (which had letters missing from sign on front), but for anything outside they go to Cole Park. Many riders said they would not visit Abbott Park again.