Du Quoin council stops short of closing entire Keyes Park because of vandalism & fights

"Keyes Park is becoming a dangerous place," Du Quoin Park board member Joe Stephens told city council members Monday Night. "I haven't seen anything good in that park after dark," he continued.

Stephens said he witnessed first hand a boy trying to pull an electrical junction box out of the wall so he and another boy and girl could darken the pavilion in Keyes Park. He confronted the three, but not before telling his daughter to call the police. "They're on the way," Stephens told the vandals.

Stephens came to the meeting to ask the council to consider closing the entire park--basketball and tennis courts included--at nightfall.

"The criminal element has found a comfort zone," he said. Police Chief Jamie Ellermeyer agreed with Stephens, saying that fighting, vandalism and drugs can be found there after hours. It's gotten worse since last year.

Commissioner Kathy West said she didn't want to shut down the park at the expense of the good families that use it after hours.

Instead, the council bought into Mayor Rex Duncan's idea to find money in the budget for auxiliary police personnel to better patrol the park at night until the no-goods get the idea that it is no longer their comfort zone. If that fails he would consider closing the park early.