Citizen’s Petition to Councilman Rick Jennings - District 7 
Demanding Immediate Action to Ensure Safe Access and Restore Safety in William Land Park

Dear Councilman Jennings,

We, the undersigned residents and community members in the William Land Park neighborhood, are writing to express our urgent and continued concern about the escalating and dangerous conditions occurring in William Land Park—in the areas of 11th Ave., 12th Ave, and 13th Ave. at 13th Street, and extending west to Riverside Boulevard—on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.

What was once a peaceful and family-friendly park has now become overrun with excessively loud unauthorized parties, illegal street racing, ignoring crosswalks and blowing stop signs, car demonstrations blocking the streets, amplified outdoor audio systems, commercial food vendors, alcohol and cannabis consumption, people seen urinating in public, and reckless behavior.  Homeless people populate the park after hours – sleeping in cars and in tents – making the park unsafe for evening and early morning exercise.  These activities occur with disturbing regularity and intensity, creating a chaotic and unsafe environment not just for parkgoers, but also for the families who live nearby. The behavior is not occasional—it is a weekly disruption, and it is worsening.

This past weekend, like many others before it, we witnessed:

·       Street racing and dangerous driving through this area with cars and motorcycles speeding and looping continuously, endangering pedestrians and children.

·       Hundreds of cars driving erratically through this area, flooding the park’s interior, with countless cars parked in red zones, on the grass, double parked, blocking the roadways,  and spilling into the neighborhood blocking driveways.

·       Large groups with DJs, commercial audio systems, and gas-powered generators blasting music at unreasonable levels, audible inside homes from several blocks away.

·       Commercial food vendors selling food and beverages to the massive crowds, with no visible regulation or oversight.

·       Entire streets, like 13th St., completely blocked by vehicles conducting car demonstrations, excessively loud music, making areas inaccessible to regular traffic or emergency vehicles.

·       No apparent enforcement of existing laws and regulations regarding alcohol and cannabis consumption, noise levels, vehicle speed, or public safety to ensure safe access to the park

·       Dozens of homeless people camping inside their cars or in tents overnight in the park after the park closes.  

This is not simply a matter of inconvenience—it is a public safety crisis, and the lack of enforcement sends a message that lawlessness is tolerated in our community parks. 

We are not asking for unreasonable measures. We are demanding common-sense action to protect a public resource and restore peace for residents and responsible park users. Therefore, we respectfully urge your office to immediately:

1.      Implement traffic calming measures that prevent vehicles from driving through the areas where illegal behavior is concentrated – specifically 13th St. and 12th Ave. west to Riverside Blvd. 

2.      Deploy active law enforcement and park rangers during peak weekend hours to prevent and deter street racing, illegal activities and ensure compliance with park rules.

3.      Enforce existing traffic, parking, noise ordinances, with visible citations and towing of vehicles in violation of park rules

4.      Cite illegal alcohol/drug consumption and unpermitted commercial food/beverage vendors in the park

5.      Actively enforce posted park hours and move homeless people living in their cars or in tents outside of the park 

6.      Investigate whether any of the large groups of partiers have obtained the required permits, and if not, cite and break-up unauthorized large gatherings.

William Land Park should be a safe, inclusive, and peaceful space for all Sacramento residents. We are asking for you to take meaningful, visible, and lasting action to ensure safe access to the park for everyone. 

Sincerely and respectfully.