City initiative aims to lower crime in College Hill Park neighborhood
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- A Community Safety Fair, courtesy of the City of St. Joseph, will be offered for residents in the College Hill Park neighborhood over the weekend.
The new safety initiative aims to lower crime, improve the appearance of the neighborhood and the livability for residents.
The first area chosen in the new initiative is the College Hill Park neighborhood with boundaries of North 9th Street and Mount Mora Road on the west and east, and Lincoln Street and Frederick Avenue on the north and south.
The Fair will take place from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25 in College Hill Park, located at 12th and Henry streets.
The Fair will also include the city's police, fire, health, planning and community development and public works departments, along with the American Red Cross and the Family Guidance Center.
Dumpsters will be made available to get rid of unwanted items. Free smoke detectors and batteries will be made available, donated by Home Depot and Shelter Insurance Matt Cathey and John Anderson.
Information on health vaccines, WIC services and microchips for pets will also be available. An ice cream truck will also be on hand for visitors to enjoy. Residents will be able to talk with city staff in a non-enforcement setting.
The city's public works department will help pick up items that College Hill Park residents are unable to transport to the dumpster site.
Those requesting assistance should email crimeprevention@stjosephmo.gov by 4 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 24, and are asked to have items to be picked placed next to the curb in front of their homes by noon on Saturday, Oct. 25.
The College Hill Park neighborhood was selected as the first focus of the new initiative based on crime and code violation data.
Staff from the police department and codes division have walked through the area together to identify concerns and look for ways to address them.
An increased law enforcement presence has been added, parking enforcement has been stepped up and code officers have identified areas in need of cleaning and week abatement, along with any vacant buildings that should be secured or potentially moved toward demolition, according to a City of St. Joseph press release.
A second neighborhood will be chosen in the spring for the next phase of the initiative, while efforts in College Hill Park will remain ongoing. A second Community Safety Fair also will be planned in that area.
