Concerns have been raised that a South Belfast park on the edge of the city centre has become a hotspot for anti-social behaviour and drugs.
Crescent Park off Botanic Avenue, which is also known as Fly Park, has been a hotspot for anti-social behaviour for a number of years with reports of constant drinking and drug use taking place there.
Local residents, businesses and representatives have raised concerns about the park saying that there have been numerous reports of problems there.
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One local resident said they are always finding drug paraphernalia and empty alcohol bottles littered around the park and have also witnessed violent incidents taking place.
They said: "I have lived in the area for three years and it has always been known as a bit of a rough area.
"I've seen children sitting there drinking and police drive past without doing anything and I regularly find syringes and other drug paraphernalia on the grass and benches.
"I have even had to ring ambulances for people who I have found who were attacked there by some of the groups drinking.
"Due to the location it just seems to be a hotspot for anti-social behaviour and drug use, especially when the weather is good."
Botanic SDLP councillor Gary McKeown expressed his frustration at the ongoing problems at the park and said it is a symptom of some of the underlying challenges that the area is facing.
He said: "There have been ongoing issues around Crescent Gardens for some time, which is so frustrating as it's a great location close to Queen's University and Botanic Avenue. There has been investment in the Crescent to regenerate some of the historic buildings and a number of residents and businesses have been working on improving the area, but there's so much potential which isn't being realised.
"There's a real problem that people do not feel safe in the park, which needs to be sorted out, and the issues there are also causing concern for local businesses.
"I'm in regular contact with council staff to get issues dealt with on the ground, and have been on-site to discuss how to address problems such as ASB and drinking. The council has increased its maintenance programme and there has been greater attention paid by the safer neighbourhood teams to the area, plus options such as closing the park at night and installing alley gates in the adjacent entries are actively being looked at. We should also be looking at a more sustained programme of activities in the park to bring people in and revitalise it.
"However this can only go so far in dealing with these issues, as it's the underlying causes that really need addressed if we are to get on top of it, as it's a symptom of the wider challenges faced in the city which have been raised by my colleague Cllr Paul McCusker.
"Crescent Gardens is one of the locations where we see these problems manifest themselves, and while the council has a role in maintaining the park and good outreach work is happening in the area to help vulnerable people, we need coordinated multi-agency intervention to provide support to people experiencing addiction or homelessness, and police action to tackle any criminal behaviour.
"There's a real desire to make this park a destination for families and visitors, but we need a concerted and sustained effort across government departments and agencies if this is to happen."
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