Tom Fedor/The Gazette Butch Lancaster fishes along the Carroll Creek Promenade in May.

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City officials have spent thousands of dollars cleaning up vandalism — both intentional like this sign and damage from bikers and skateboarders along Carroll Creek.
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Tom Fedor/The Gazette Carroll Creek Linear Park has recently been witness to a rash of crimes including a shooting, stabbing and vandalism. The city spent nearly $10 million in 2005 to develop the roughly 1.3-mile section of creekside land.
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Tom Fedor/The Gazette Katie Caraher, 16, of Brunswick who goes by "Scarlett the fire spinner" demonstrates her skills as she spins fire poi along Carroll Creek Linear Park in downtown Frederick.

Tom Fedor/The Gazette Butch Lancaster fishes along the Carroll Creek Promenade in May.

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Carroll Creek Linear Park is a constant witness to crime, arrests, and general mayhem — at least during the summer.

A knifing near the C. Burr Artz Library grabbed headlines last August. Earlier this month, residents woke up to gunshots after a shooting led to a stabbing in the early morning hours.

On Sunday night, a park regular who was angry at being told not to block the entrance to the park along Market Street was arrested for shouting profanities at passers-by.

At the same time across the street, two others mixed it up in front of a bar after one had been ejected for being too drunk. All three were arrested for disorderly conduct.

Two residents of the Maxwell Condominiums told Frederick Mayor Randy McClement (R) and the Board of Aldermen recently that they need help and that with the advent of summer, their posh environs had turned into a frightening place.

Primarily, they worry about the groups of teens that hang out along Carroll Creek blocking passage over the bridges and intimidating and threatening people.

"We've put up with noise, but now we are getting scared because of the fights going on there," Barbara Mann told officials at the city's July 7 meeting. "We strongly suggest that the city increase the police force. We are really upset."

Michael Levengood, who also lives in the condominiums, told city officials about youth who "taunt police officers," "ignore authority," and use "atrocious language."

He said a group of 20 to 30 kids recently surrounded a waitress at a creekside restaurant who confronted them about throwing an object at the building. The owner came out, and the teens threw a drink cup at her and shouted a racial slur. The women retreated, Levengood said, visibly shaken.

"Something has to be done," Levengood said. "This is getting worse. . It's a powder keg that will go off."

Not only have unruly teens staked out their turf on the creek with their presence, they have vandalized the park, often with skateboards and bikes.

Last year alone, the city spent $5,930 in materials, graffiti remover and equipment, and $8,526 in staff hours to repair and clean damage done in the park, according to Roelkey Myers, director of Parks and Recreation.

Rumors that the group is part of a gang have not been verified, according to Det. Robert Marker of the Frederick Police Department. "[Members of the gang] the Bloods do hang out in that area," Marker said. "They frequent shops there, but their presence has not come up as a part of any investigation."

A victim of its own success?

The roughly 1.3 miles of park along the creek cost the city $10 million to develop in 2005.

Completing the linear park from the Delaplaine Visual Arts Center to Highland Street toward the fairgrounds is projected to cost as much or more, and city officials have delayed the project because of the struggling economy.

With restaurants, office buildings, luxury condominiums and numerous special events, the park can justifiably be labeled a success. Plans are under way to build a hotel and convention center on the creek or in close proximity through a public-private partnership.

Designed to attract visitors, the park is doing its job. Now the question is whether the park is a victim of its own success. Lt. Clark Pennington of the Frederick Police Department called the situation at the linear park a symbolic of "an increased urbanism and the progression of Frederick city."

Every demographic is represented along the creek, some more palatable than others, Pennington said. That includes homeless people, who he acknowledged some residents see as "unsightly" even though some habitually report wrongdoing to police and generally keep an eye on happenings.

The linear park is a concern to police who have had patrols and volunteers walking beats in the park. But they are somewhat hampered because they cannot take action unless they witness the wrongdoing.

"We can't run people off," Pennington said. "Everyone has a right to congregate."

Hanging out in a public park is legal, and Frederick County judges have declined to hear cases of municipal infractions against skateboarders.

The city used to confiscate skateboards from youngsters who were not wearing protective gear, damaging property, or being a nuisance. The court told city attorneys last year that they are not interested in tying up court time for these cases, according to city attorney Scott Waxter .

Calls for a community response

Sgt. Earl Rocca of the Frederick Police Department is the police liaison to the city's Downtown Frederick Partnership, a nonprofit that represents the interests of downtown merchants. He is familiar with growing concerns at the linear park, and calls for a community approach to the problem.

"Police alone cannot address these issues," he said. "We can't have a constant presence because we have to work within the limitations of our own resources."

Some merchants have discussed creating a separate business district zoning so that they can hire their own security, but nothing has come of that yet, according to McClement.

To assist police, the city recently installed a camera on the suspension bridge in the park, while the residents of the condominium have paid for camera on their building, too. Business owners are on board, too, according to McClement, and have agreed to pay for cameras and share videotapes with police.

The mayor owns a business with his wife near the Market Street entrance to Carroll Creek Park that is on the market. The proximity to the creek makes it more attractive to potential buyers, McClement said, but he acknowledged that the urban park has problems — problems that could cost Frederick merchants and restaurateurs in the long run.

"It's a Catch-22," McClement said. "You want to draw people to the creek, and then there are some you don't want to draw."

Dealing with linear park issues is a balancing act, he said.

After serving as mayor for 18 months, McClement has become all too familiar with the limitations imposed upon him by the city charter and the U.S. Constitution, especially as they apply to cleaning up the park.

He is frustrated over the lack of teeth in loitering laws, the increasing vandalism that is costing the city money, and the fact that unless they are caught in the act, police cannot arrest those responsible for the damage.

The idea of a curfew is appealing, though, and the mayor is looking into legislative options.

Friends of Carroll Creek

Bringing residents, business owners, police and city officials together to help solve issues at the creekside park is another option. Frederick attorney Tom Lynch, who lives in the condos on the creek, is proposing an organization modeled after Friends of Baker Park to address problems.

"This is really about citizen accountability," Lynch said. "We all need to be personally responsible for making this a better place to live."

The creek represents a huge investment. To keep it alive and thriving, people need to get together now to help find solutions. Otherwise, he believes Frederick will be dealing with a blighted park that no one wants to visit, especially after dark.

kheerbrandt@gazette.net