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City and school officials point to decreased calls, added security and maintenance at Jefferson Park and Odyssey Elementary
Summary
Parks and police officials told a joint meeting that maintenance contracts, cameras and a dedicated SRO have reduced incidents around Jefferson Park and Odyssey Elementary; OPD reported self‑initiated calls in the area fell from about 194 at peak to roughly 50 in 2025.
Ogden parks and police officials described a multi‑pronged approach that they say has reduced vandalism, encampments and complaints at Jefferson Park and the adjacent Odyssey Elementary.
Monty Stewart, Ogden Parks Director, summarized investments including contracted encampment cleanup (Servpro), a rotating private security contract covering four parks, daily/weekly maintenance, surveillance cameras installed at the park (project cost roughly $12,000) and recent playground and path repairs (playground upgrades ~$34,000). Stewart said routine cleaning and restroom maintenance costs and vandalism repairs together amount to several tens of thousands of dollars annually; he cited a Servpro cleanup total of about $16,008.08 for the park and annual staff‑logged landscape/restroom labor of roughly $44,000.
Captain Tim Scott of the Ogden Police Department presented enforcement data and credited environmental design changes, outreach partners and the school district for improvements. Scott said officer‑initiated calls in the immediate area peaked in recent years and dropped from about 194 at the peak to about 50 in 2025; he characterized that as a meaningful decline. Sergeant Michael Flint said the district adjusted SRO staffing so a dedicated officer will focus on Odyssey each morning from 07:30 to 08:30 to address arrival‑time safety concerns.
Board and council members praised the improvements and discussed expanding park activation (sports programming, events) to maintain positive use. Staff agreed to review bathroom unlocking times (currently noted to open at 04:30 in the transcript) and adapt patrols seasonally, with additional community policing during warmer months if needed.
Officials framed the work as joint — combining parks maintenance, contracted cleanup/security, police outreach and school resource officers — and flagged upcoming maintenance tasks (walking path resurfacing) and further programming to increase active, daytime use.
