OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — Families and residents living near Applewood Heights Park on 108th Street are voicing their concerns over the safety of the park next to the busy road.
When the city widened 108th Street, crews took down the fence that ran parallel to the park. Though the park is inside Applewood Heights, the park itself is city property.
"Since that is not our property we do not have control with what the city will do with that or not," said Robyn LaMar, the Applewood Heights Home Owners Association Manager.
"I don't like them being out on the basketball court because it is right next to the street," said Sarah Chantiam, a resident in the area and a mom to five kids between 4 and 16 years old. "I don't understand if you're going to take down a fence why you don't put down a fence. There's a reason that it was there."
Chantiam said the basketball court, which is roughly 60 feet from the road, is what worries her the most. She said without a fence, children may run in to the street playing.
"If our kids are playing on the basketball court and their ball goes out on the street, the cars themselves out there, it is a hazard to them as well," Chantiam said.
As of now there is no plan to build a fence. Chantium said parents in the neighborhood need to be on the lookout when kids are playing in the park.
"Know where your kids are, know what they're doing, keep an eye on them," Chantium said.
3 News Now reached out to the Omaha Public Works, Park Maintenance and Parks and Recreation departments for comments on this story. All departments either passed the inquiry along to another entity or didn't respond to the calls.
