©2006 The Chestnut Hill Local

Local’s story on frolicking dogs unleashes gripes about Pastorius
by KRISTIN PAZULSKI

The unleashed dogs at Pastorius Park cause some neighbors concern and others delight. Since a story on the issue ran in the June 8 issue of the Local, there has been a flood of letters and stories addressing the dog issue and bringing others to light.

On May 31, a 17-year-old youth was arrested on the 7200 block of Millman Road for possession of marijuana, said Officer Rick Walton of the 14th District. Millman borders Pastorius’ west side. Neighbors had called the police, complaining about noise and possible drug use in the park, and local bike officers made the arrest.

Officer Joe Bird said he and his partner were frequenting the park more often, watching for drug use and ensuring that kids don’t race down Millman Road. “We have zero tolerance,” Bird said.

Walton said police have received other complaints tied to Pastorius. One, on May 27, reported gunshots, but police found nothing. And there were four calls in April and May reporting disturbances; in one instance, there was no one present when the police arrived, but the other three times a crowd was dispersed without citation or arrest.

Other complaints have filtered in about the upkeep of the park’s benches and the pond/moat. Three of the benches, at least, are missing planks or are plankless. One anonymous citizen called, saying she was an artist and had sanded down the benches when she saw graffiti.

The Fairmount Park Commission, which manages Pastorius Park, uses the Philadelphia Anti-Graffiti Network to power wash, chemically treat or paint over graffiti on park property, said Patricia Crossan, manager of the park’s District Three (Northwest region).

“The graffiti is endless,” Crossan said. “I save up until I have enough [graffiti] for a day or two of work … but it usually comes back within a day.” Crossan said they usually go out every two or three months with the PAGN to clean the graffiti.

The benches at Pastorius Park, Crossan said, are on the list for repairs, but with a 9,200-acre park and a shortage of contractors, the commission is having trouble keeping up with the repair jobs.

Michael DeSanto, the park’s facilities manager, said the park just hired two carpenters he hopes will start within the next two weeks. The benches at Pastorius are on the list of projects, but he couldn’t say how soon they’d be repaired. “Depends on the special events … we will start on projects as quick as we can, but we have a lot,” DeSanto said. The shortage of carpenters resulted from a few retirements and a removal for disciplinary reasons.

He said his biggest headache with keeping Pastorius clean is the sticks people throw into the pond for their dogs that are never retrieved. The sticks clog the pumps and block the drains that are used to keep the pond water moving, so it does not become stagnant.

The pond, which used to be drained and scrubbed annually, is now cleared of debris two or three times a week. The pond’s pumps are designed to push around and collect debris in certain areas for easier cleaning. DeSanto said it’s no longer drained and cleaned because the chlorine would kill some of the wildlife, particularly the frogs and tadpoles.

The moat is still drained and cleaned out annually, and was done just recently, before the Pastorius Park Concert Series began on Wednesday, June 14.

Curious about all the complaints and issues revolving around Chestnut Hill’s green oasis, the Local reporters visited the park numerous times during the day and evening. Despite the broken benches, unleashed dogs, and some litter in the pond and moat, a glance at Pastorius reveals a clean and beautiful park.

Contact staff writer Kristin Pazulski at 215-248-8819 or kristin@ChestnutHillLocal.com.