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Resident letter urges coordinated response to safety problems at West Lafayette playground
Summary
A letter signed by Richard and Emily Miller described youths misusing equipment and possible curfew violations at the new elementary-school playground and Bird Park; councilors and police urged residents to report incidents to the sheriff so WLPD will be dispatched and a record created.
The Village of West Lafayette received a written correspondence signed by Richard and Emily Miller reporting repeated safety problems at the new elementary-school playground and at Bird Park, the council heard. The letter said that on Friday, Sept. 19, between about 7:10 and 8:00 p.m. “a large group of middle school and high school age students” gathered at the playground, engaged in risky behavior — including spinning swings at high speed, riding e-bikes through play areas and using profane language around young children — and in some instances ignored adults who asked them to stop.
The letter asked the village, the school district and local law enforcement to explore coordinated patrols, clearer signage about hours and behavior expectations, curfew enforcement, joint messaging to students and volunteer or community-watch patrols. It also urged better open channels for residents to report concerns and receive timely responses. “Some ideas worth considering,” the letter read, included “increasing visibility of law enforcement … clear signage … community watch or volunteer patrol programs.”
Council members and administrators said they had discussed the matter with the police chief and the school superintendent. Officials told the meeting that some incidents had been reviewed via school cameras and that the chief has already taken steps to follow up. To help generate an official response, village staff urged residents to call the sheriff’s department and ask that WLPD be dispatched so an incident record is created: officials said a dispatch creates a paper trail that can identify repeat offenders and prompt follow-up.
A patrolman who addressed the council later noted that the village also recently received a small grant to purchase a programmable solar radar speed sign that can be moved between locations such as Union Street and Route 93; officials suggested traffic- and safety-related equipment as one way to address community concerns. Council members thanked Emily Miller for submitting the letter and said staff and law enforcement would continue to coordinate with the school district and residents on next steps.
The council did not adopt a new ordinance during the discussion; officials encouraged residents who witness unsafe behavior to report it immediately to law enforcement so the village can document incidents.
