Drug needles found at park near school

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Dirty drug needles are turning up again at Civitan Park, a playground adjacent to Allison Elementary School in southeast Austin. Last September four students were stuck by a needle at the park. Since then police have stepped up patrols and school custodians regularly comb the grounds. The park’s bathroom remains permanently locked, and surveillance cameras have been mounted on the school.

Still, parents and community activists say everyone needs to get involved. Delwin Goss, president of the Montopolis Neighborhood Association, is trying to organize resistance to the drug users, saying, “We’re trying to get this neighborhood active. We’re trying to get people to step up. This is our neighborhood, it’s not theirs”.

As the spring weather warms, this may be a growing problem. One third of the city’s parks share space as playgrounds with public schools.  If you find a syringe, the Parks and Recreation Department urges you to give them a call for its safe removal, but they caution do not touch the needle or allow children anywhere near it.