A Roxbury park that some residents have taken to calling “Crackhead Park” was the subject on an intense cleanup and rally Saturday morning. The Friends of Clifford Park gathered to bring cleanliness and awareness to Clifford Park in the hopes of cleaning up the public area.
“We want to give these young people a space within their community where they can be kids. Where they don’t have to worry about the things that they’re concerned [about],” said Boston Bengals Pop Warner coach Domingos DaRosa.
According to DaRosa, parents rely on Clifford Park as a place they can trust their kids can be safe.
“They’re looking for support themselves so that’s why they sign their kids up for the Boston Bengal program, for that extra hands on deck type of thing. They’re looking for the city to come and do what was promised.
On October 12, a 9-year-old boy was rushed to the hospital after he fell on a needle during football practice. The child’s mother told Boston 25 News that she waited in the emergency room with her son for six hours after the incident.
Marla Smith, one of the participants in the event, displayed a jar full of needles that she collected in one lap around the park.
“Some of those needles have blood and whatever else, heroin, fentanyl, whatever people are doing,” said Smith. “I would like a more active police presence around the park to keep users out of the park. Because we cant surrender everything to the user community.
Participants walked down the sidewalk, raising signs calling to clean up the nearby Mass & Cass area.
Wu spoke at Clifford Park on Thursday to address situation.
“It’s hard to stand here and talk to you all about how much progress we have made when I know it still feels like the city is bearing so much and is so visibly shaken by the depth of substance abuse disorder, mental health, and homelessness that we are still struggling to meet the demand to serve,” Wu said.
Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW