Crime tops agenda
at Morrell Park civic meeting

By Lauren Fritsky
Times Staff Writer

Things aren’t the way they used to be.
That’s what several residents said in regard to crime and police presence at the April 26 meeting of the Morrell Civic Association.
Concerns swirled around Mitchell Playground, now a haven for youths more interested in shooting guns than shooting hoops, residents claim.
Just two weeks ago, a local Boy Scout found shell casings on the playground. Neighbors say it’s the second gun incident in two weeks.
"This is a serious problem," said civic association president Ed Shonewolf.
Resident Terri Rieser wonders why 8th Police District officers make a "sweep" of all the youths at the playground when some bad apples cause problems.
"Why can’t we let the good kids stay? Now you’re telling the good kids to go into the woods and cause trouble," she said.
Stephen Carr, community relations officer for the district, said that one potential way for residents to curb crime is by reactivating the local Town Watch group.
"That’s all the more reason you should get as much community involvement as you can," he said.
Carr said that as long as eight people volunteer for the group, Operation Town Watch Integrated Services, which oversees the neighborhood groups, will send a representative down to train them. Carr also urged individual residents to report criminal or suspicious incidents to the police.
Carr also reported that the neighborhood of Morrell Park represents just 1 percent of the total calls coming in to the 8th district.
In addition, Art McQuoid, the director at Mitchell Playground, invited adults in the room to use the facility at night to establish a presence that could potentially ward off problems.
In other news from the civic meeting:
• City Councilman Brian O’Neill (R-10th dist.) updated residents on several matters that are affecting their community.
One involved the replacement of playground equipment at Mitchell that was destroyed in a winter fire. The equipment was to be delivered on Friday and installed by May 18. O’Neill said he would have meetings with the Department of Recreation regarding other equipment and areas of the playground that need to be updated.
• The civic group heard from City Council candidates Republican David Oh and Democrat Marc Stier, who are seeking at-large seats.
• The civic group is developing standing committees to handle specific parts of the group. They include zoning and community planning, health and safety and education and recreation.
• The Morrell Civic Association’s meeting will be Thursday, May 17, at 7:30 p.m., at Christ the King Church, 3252 Chesterfield Road. ••
Reporter Lauren Fritsky can be reached at 215-354-3038 or lfritsky@phillynews.com