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Residents press board on parking, graffiti and safety at Ben Miller Park; staff says cameras and boulders can help
Summary
Neighbors said cars and trailers repeatedly park on the grass at Ben Miller Park, creating safety and vandalism concerns; staff said newly installed cameras and available boulders offer immediate mitigation while long-term parking controls would require ordinance and enforcement work.
At the Keizer Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting on June 9, neighborhood residents described recurring problems at Ben Miller Park, including vehicles parking on grass, dumped trailers, gratuitous vandalism and graffiti, and periodic groups of youths that contribute to damage.
Rachel Navarro, who lives near Ben Miller Park, said the neighborhood has repeatedly reported cars parking and sometimes remaining for long periods. "They tend to park inside the park, not on the side of the street, but inside the park," Navarro said, adding that the neighborhood has been instructed to call police but that officers often arrive after vehicles are gone.
Board members and staff discussed short-term and longer-term options. Robert (parks staff) said staff installed cameras at the site and that the footage will help staff determine where to place boulders to block vehicle access. "We do have boulders available," he said, and the cameras will provide data to identify patterns and problem locations.
The board discussed that two-hour parking limits or other signage would likely require an ordinance and broader enforcement steps and therefore take longer to implement. Board members also suggested interim measures such as school parking agreements, additional police drive-bys during peak hours and use of youth court for restorative work.
The board did not take a formal vote on enforcement measures during the meeting; staff committed to reviewing camera footage and pursuing immediate physical mitigation where feasible.
The outcome: staff will review camera footage and consider placement of boulders as an immediate deterrent; any formal parking restrictions will need a longer process involving ordinance changes and enforcement planning.
