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Residents press Benton Harbor commission on park safety and neglected city lot during public comment
Summary
Speakers urged the commission to enforce a 10 p.m. closing at Gene Clark Park, restore front‑gate vehicle controls, and address an overgrown city lot next to a homeowner’s property; one community group reported 275 petition signatures for safety improvements.
Residents used the city’s public‑comment period to press the Benton Harbor City Commission for action on park safety and neighborhood blight.
Jacqueline Elliott, co‑founder of the Gene Clock Neighborhood Coalition, thanked public works for replacing a missing stop sign at the Gene Clark Park exit and urged enforcement of the existing 10 p.m. closing rule, repair of front‑gate vehicle controls on Grand Boulevard, traffic‑calming to stop drag racing and clearer park signage. "More than 275 community members have signed our petition so far for practical common sense safety improvements at Gene Clark," Elliott said, and invited the mayor and staff to meet with the coalition.
Precious Valentine described an adjacent city‑owned lot next to her home that she said is overgrown with dangerous limbs and vegetation, preventing her from installing a privacy fence and creating a hazard to her property. She said she has provided photos to the city and requested further action; the chair asked that she leave the images with the city clerk so staff can follow up.
Other speakers thanked city officials and staff for help resolving property enforcement actions or announced local community wellness programming. The commission offered to follow up with staff on maintenance and enforcement requests raised during the public‑comment period.
What happens next: Citizens who brought photos were asked to leave them with the city clerk for staff investigation; park safety suggestions were recorded for consideration alongside grant‑funded and in‑house maintenance work.
