COUNTY COMMISSION HEARS REPORT ON HOMOSEXUAL ACTIVITY IN PARK

JACKSON -- Cape Girardeau County South Park will be closed to traffic during the evenings this winter in an effort to keep homosexual activity out of the park.

Bruce Watkins, county parks superintendent, told county commissioners Thursday that homosexuals have been seeking sexual partners in park restrooms.

"It just is a problem," said Watkins. He said graffiti messages have placed on bathroom walls.

Watkins said the homosexual activity isn't welcome in a park that is popular with families and is the site of picnics for church groups and businesses.

A sign at the park entrance says the park closes at 10 p.m. But Watkins said the parks department hasn't regularly closed the gate.

County commissioners suggested that Watkins close the park gate to prevent vehicular traffic on the one-way park road at night. Watkins said later in the day that his department would start closing the park to traffic about 4 p.m. daily through the winter. He also said he would discuss the issue with the county's park board.

Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones suggested that an increased police presence could help. After telephoning Cape Girardeau Police Chief Rick Hetzel, Jones announced that the city police and the sheriff's department will send patrol cars through the park in an effort to crack down on any misconduct.

Officers, said Jones, could "hassle the hell out of them" and discourage homosexuals from coming to the park for sex.

Hetzel said his officers already patrol the park but will step up enforcement efforts. Those efforts probably will include some undercover operations, he said.

Even before Thursday's discussion, police had made one sexual-misconduct arrest this week as a result of an undercover operation at the park. The arrest occurred at 12:37 a.m. Wednesday. The man's name was withheld pending the filing of charges.

Hetzel said his department increases patrolling when it receives complaints of crime problems in a neighborhood.

Watkins said homosexuals tend to show up when there is little activity at the park. During the winter months the park sees little use.

He said the homosexual activity tends to be at its worst during the winter months. "The problem just basically disappears in the spring."

Watkins said Cape Girardeau and Jackson have cracked down on homosexual activity in their parks. As a result, the homosexual has moved to the county park, he said.

County Commissioner Larry Bock suggested closing the park at 5 p.m. from October to April. The park opens at 6:30 a.m. daily.

Watkins said he won't open the park up to evening traffic on a particular date. He said it will depend on the weather. "If the weather is really nice in late March, we'll just open it for good in late March," he said.

Watkins said some people walk in the park, but closing the park to vehicular traffic in the evenings shouldn't pose a problem. Walkers still would have access to the park road, he said.

Homosexual activity surfaced in Jackson's Klaus Park several years ago. The park borders Interstate 55, a short distance from the county park.

"We were not only getting sexual-misconduct complaint, but also underage possession of alcohol," said Steve Wilson, Jackson city administrator.

Wilson said the city has closed Klaus Park to traffic at night for the past couple of years. Wilson said that move and police patrolling have addressed the problem.