TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – The city is getting some heat about America’s favorite pastime.
Little leagues across Tucson are saying their parks are not a safe place for kids to play baseball.
Freedom Park has been home to the Cactus Empire Little League in Ward 4, but recently, parents are worried about their kids’ safety.
Adam Wright has been overseeing every grand slam and strike out for the Cactus Empire Little League for three years. It’s been a whole different ball game than what he expected.
“Growing up, I never had to deal with this,” Wright said.
He’s talking about the drug and homelessness issue that’s right next to the fields his kids play on, but it’s not the people seeking shade that’s the problem.
“My own daughter has come running up to me with needles in hand,” Wright said.
Before parents even get to the field, they’re getting a heads up not to let their kids go into bathrooms by themselves because of people holding weapons or passed out inside.
“That’s at all parks, that doesn’t apply to just Freedom,” Wright said. “A lot of it is centralized to people that have to live within the city boundaries.”
From Udall Park to Freedom, Wright says baseball leagues are trying to come together to find a solution.
Pima County Attorney Laura Conover told residents at a town hall meeting last week to call 911 if something like that happens, but Wright says it’s not enough.
“We call the cops and to no fault of their own, they’re over 30 minutes to react and I don’t think that it’s a matter of if it happens, but when something happens because there’s going to be an incident,” Wright said.
In a statement to 13 News, Ward 4 Councilmember Nikki Lee’s office said:
“The concerns from the community and little league are exactly why Council Woman Lee supported the ban on camping in washes and parks…these ordinances not only give Tucson Police the tools to be able to enforce in our parks and washes, but also connect our unsheltered community with the appropriate resources they need including housing and other resources. “
Conover and Ward 2 Councilmember Paul Cunningham have been vocal about adding more TPD officers to the force to help with safety concerns.
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