While everyone agrees on the urgent need to find a solution to recover MacArthur Park from crime, violence, and high drug use, the $2.3 million proposal to fence it off has generated controversy: although many think it's a great idea, they also have many unanswered questions about the project.

Meanwhile, most of those who made use Those who spoke at the October 16 Park Commission meeting where the project was approved spoke out against it, saying that fencing is not the way to address safety concerns. "We agree with the fence because it can be part of the solution to homelessness, drug trafficking, and violence, but we have many unanswered questions, such as the total cost and the overall plan. Firefighters have said that if the park is fenced, they don't know how they will get in if there is an emergency," said Raul Claros, director of the Salvadoran Corridor Association and founder of the District 1 Coalition. “We need to see when they are going to start, when they are going to finish, how it is going to work; and we need to see leadership from our representative, Councilwoman Eunisses Hernandez, because she was initially against the project, and now she is in favor.” “We need the fence, but it must meet certain conditions to be effective,” Claros said. On October 16, the Los Angeles Board of Recreation and Parks Commissioners, whose members are appointed by the Mayor's Office, approved the project. The proposal to fence off the 35-acre park for $2.3 million was unanimously approved, citing reasons of public safety and quality of life. MacArthur Park has deteriorated significantly over the past four years. The last major investment of around $3 million to clean it up was during Councilman Gil Cedillo's term, but it has fallen into disrepair under Councilwoman Eunisses Hernandez. Few children are seen in the park. Their parents prefer not to bring them for fear of an attack. It is plagued by homeless people, many of them with mental health issues, addicts who, completely detached from reality, consume fentanyl in full view of passersby. Drug dealing is common place there; and as a result, violence has become routine. Last year, a man was fatally wounded near the park; in January,there was a shooting with multiple victims; and on the Labor Day holiday in September, a man's body was pulled from the park's lake. According to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, after Skid Row, MacArthur Park has the second-highest number of overdose deaths among the homeless. Between 2022 and 2023, 127 overdose deaths were recorded in the 90057 zip code, which includes MacArthur Park. Regarding the proposed fence, Mayor Karen Bass's office responded that both she and Councilwoman Eunisess Hernandez are working together on a plan to improve safety in MacArthur Park. "We want to help people with addictions get treatment and those experiencing homelessness find housing," they said. They added that these problems have affected the lives of residents and the safety of the park. “The idea of ??putting a fence around the park is a positive step toward protecting it at night, preventing vandalism, drugs, and damage to its facilities.” Meanwhile, Naomi Roochnik, spokesperson for Councilwoman Hernandez, said that while they continue working to address the real and complex challenges facing MacArthur Park, the Recreation and Parks Department (RAP) has proposed installing a perimeter fence on both sides of the park in response to community safety concerns. “This measure will allow long-overdue maintenance, beautification, and restoration work to be done safely at night when the park is closed, while remaining accessible to the public during the day.”

She said her office has already invested more than $27 million in the care of MacArthur Park, including 24-hour peace ambassadors, cleanup crews, harm reduction and overdose response teams, street programs, violence prevention and youth medicine programs, solar lighting, and a forthcoming full-service rest center.

“None of these services will be impacted by this project.”

The mayor's office said that in collaboration with Councilwoman Hernandez, it has spearheaded a comprehensive park safety strategy. Following the January shooting, they installed fencing on the sidewalks in front of the park and increased foot patrols.

In March, Mayor Bass held a press conference to announce that the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) had recovered more than $350,000 worth of stolen property in the MacArthur Park area. At that time, the LAPD reported that violent crimes had decreased by 34% as a result of the strategy launched by the mayor.

The community doesn't feel safe

Cindy Bernal and her ten-year-old son, Isaias, came from Bakersfield to take care of some business at the Mexican Consulate General in Los Angeles, and decided to sit in MacArthur Park to wait a couple of hours while the husband and father finished his errands.

“During this time,we've seen that there are many homeless people in the park; but I think the idea of ??putting up a fence would be good for those who live around it, but I also say that the homeless have a right to know where they're going to go if they're not allowed in,” said Cindy.

But she admitted that when they were walking in search of a bench, in the part of MacArthur Park along Alvarado Street between 6th and 7th Streets, she felt afraid.

“You can't feel comfortable, because “You think they might do something to you, like rob you, I don't know, but you don't feel safe.” Roberto Miranda, 78, thought it was a very good idea to put a fence around the park. "It's a very good thing because the park is run down, neglected, destroyed. I would like them to fence it in, and open it at eight in the morning and close it at six in the evening," he said. "There are a lot of people doing drugs. It's scary to walk on that side of Alvarado Street; and I would like to come and sit peacefully in the park because I live here. You can't let your guard down because you'll get robbed. If I fall asleep, they'll take my money." A young man who was resting for a while in the park and who preferred not to give his name, said that he passes by every day, and that he agrees with the fence. "I like the idea. It sounds like a good plan because right now I see it in a very bad shape."

Another individual, who also wished to remain anonymous, and who was walking through the park, considered the park's fencing a very good solution to the prevailing chaos.

“This way the community could enjoy the park more. It would be cleaner, and there would be fewer drugs. As it is now, it's a bad thing for young people.”

The design phase of the fencing project is expected to be completed by the end of the year, but there are no further details regarding the height of the fence, the opening hours, whether there will be security, or where the access gates will be located.