A Walk Through a City Park..Condom Wrappers, Used Wet Wipes & Creepy Chairs, Oh My

Met a friend this morning who lives nearby Belmont Park and we decided to do a little exploring.  

When we first pulled into the parking lot at about 10:30 am, there were a few vehicles in the lot, again, all occupied by male drivers. 

We agreed that we would take a walk along the trails and if we were to stumble upon anything eyebrow raising, we would take a picture of it.  Sporadically located along the walking trails were used paper towels, wet wipe and condom wrappers, random used old clothing, cigar wrappers, and empty bottles. 

A few photos were taken of these items (below) that were easily visible.  I can't imagine what lay underneath all of the leaves. 

While we were walking around the woodsy area, we noticed a man walk by us in a very peculiar manner. He seemed sketchy and avoided eye contact with us upon first pass.   He then walked by us again, almost as if he was casing out the scene and still would not make eye contact with us. 

After about 10 minutes passed, a black vehicle pulled into the lot and another man got out. He slowly started making his way towards the entrance of the path and noticed us sitting on a log along the path of the woodsy area.  He immediately froze, and just kept looking over at us very hesitantly.   We carried on and kept casually talking and watching out of the corners of our eyes as to what would be the next move.

The man standing at the entrance of the path turned around and went back to his car.  The man still in the woodsy area of the park where we were walked away and stood at a distance staring at us through the tree branches. It was all very...creepy. 

We decided to leave the woodsy area and return to the parking lot area. The man in the black car moved from where he was parked and went to the other side of the  lot.  The other man still in the woods eventually came out and paced back a forth the lot a few more times then ended up getting back in his car and leaving the park. 

During the two hours my friend and I spent at the park, not once did a female driver pass through. Only upon leaving the park at around 12:30PM, a woman was observed eating lunch outside of her car at the entrance of the park.  A Warwick Police officer cruiser also passed by at about the same time.  It was nice to see a police officer driving through.   

So you be the judge.   Do you a think a mother with her child(ren) is going to feel safe walking through the Belmont Park walking paths? I know I certainly wouldn't feel comfortable walking through there alone.  Yes, used condom wrappers can be found at any park, anywhere, understood.  However, based off of personal observations after visiting this park just twice, I must conclude that the type of reported sexual encounters in the woodsy areas  are not heterosexual in nature.  

I have no problems with anyone's sexual preferences and the type of lifestyle they choose to live. To each's own-- if it happens in a decent, private manner, I could care less what anyone does.  But I have a big problem with any type of inappropriate, behavior, especially sexual, occurring in and around any family park, especially when it's a taxpayer maintained city park. 

Warwick Watch, along with other concerned citizens,  will continue to monitor and keep a record of all forms of activity/traffic/visitors occurring in and around Belmont Park.  

The goal is to rid the park of any form of inappropriate activity/behavior. If you live nearby, be proactive, aware, and take the time to make your neighborhood a safe, good place to be.