FELLSMERE — The area that surrounds Grant Park in Fellsmere has become known as a hot spot for crime. Now, the families and community members who live in the immediate area are digging their heels in and doing something about it.
In spite of a torrential downpour, approximately 40 people gathered under a park shelter to discuss strategies for improving the area.
“What are we going to do about the drugs and the guns in this community?” asked Pastor Annie Brown, of Fellsmere Community Prayer and Worship, posing the question to the small crowd in a lively speech.
Brown, a resident of Fellsmere since the age of 13, is well-known in the Grant Park neighborhood for her fiery passion for bringing the love of God into an area that has seen a lot of darkness.
According to Fellsmere Chief of Police Keith Touchberry, Brown contacted him approximately two weeks ago after a particularly disturbing fight occurred in Grant Park; one of the people involved in the dispute displayed a gun.
Two days later, the first community meeting was held addressing the pressing issues of violence and crime.
“We had more people here tonight than we did at the first meeting,” Touchberry said. “At the first meeting, it was about 70/30, where community leaders spoke about 70 percent of the time and others spoke about 30 percent of the time. Tonight, we wanted that to switch.”
City Manager Jason Nunemaker was also present to participate in communication with the attendees. Nunemaker pointed to the need for greater trust and communication between residents living near Grant Park, and the police department and city officials.
“You have multiple points of contact here,” Nunemaker said.
He urged the residents to reach out to City Council members and himself for concerns regarding safety in the neighborhood, and to report suspicious activity to the police.
“If you don’t, we can’t respond,” Nunemaker said.
Other issues plaguing the park, according to Touchberry, are prostitution, drug dealing, and vandalism. Only days before the second meeting was called, a stabbing that is still under investigation occurred just across the street from the park.
Touchberry took the reins as police chief last August.
“When I first got here, I was seeing and hearing things that can only be described as territorial,” Touchberry said.
He cited an incident in which a group of people walked out of the park to surround a car pulling into the neighborhood, and stopped the driver from moving forward.
Another example he used was of the continual struggle to keep people from intentionally spreading trash throughout the park.
Though Touchberry, Nunemaker, and other community leaders are taking action to address the growing problems in the neighborhood, Brown said she believes the real issue lies within the families themselves.
“The question was posed last week: What am I, the individual, going to do about this,” Brown said. “It all starts at home.”
She continued in fervor about taking responsibility to keep children in the neighborhood safe.
“These are our prized possessions,” she said gesturing to a group of small kids. “Even if you didn’t want a chance, at least give them a chance.”
Brown later said she would hold a meeting next week for residents only, in hopes attendees would open up more about concerns and how to address them without the presence of city officials and police.
In two weeks, Touchberry said he hopes the community agrees to another meeting that will lead to even more communication and progress.