Petition Description:

 

 

 

Dear Lakewood Park Residents and St. Lucie County Leaders,

 

Our neighborhood is facing a serious safety issue that demands urgent action.

 

Currently, there are over 27 registered sex offenders living in Lakewood Park, many of whom reside dangerously close to Lakewood Park Elementary School and several public school bus stops where our children wait daily.

 

Florida law restricts sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet (about 0.19 miles) of schools, daycare centers, parks, and playgrounds — but bus stops are not included in these restrictions. This leaves our children vulnerable, as offenders can legally live right next to places where kids gather every day.

 

A recent incident brought this danger into sharp focus: St. Lucie County SWAT executed a search warrant at 7900 Citrus Park Blvd, just 1.2 miles from Lakewood Park Elementary, arresting a registered sex offender. But this highlights the fact that current laws do not provide adequate protection for our children.

 

 

 

 

 

 

What We Are Asking For:

 

 

 

We urge the St. Lucie County Commission and Sheriff’s Office to:

 

Expand the residency restriction buffer zones from 1,000 feet to at least 1,500 to 2,500 feet around schools, parks, and daycare centers.
Include all public school bus stops in these residency restrictions and enforce loitering bans within 300 feet of bus stops during school hours.
Review the placement of current bus stops near registered offenders and relocate them if necessary.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why This Matters:

 

 

 

Our kids’ safety is non-negotiable. We have the data, the recent events, and the community will to push for stronger protections. Several Florida counties, including Pasco, Miami-Dade, and Volusia, have already enacted stricter local ordinances that include bus stop protections. St. Lucie County can and should do the same for Lakewood Park.

 

 

 

Join Us!

Please sign this petition to show your support for safer neighborhoods and stronger laws that protect our children.

 

Together, we can make a difference.

 

— Concerned Lakewood Park Resident and Parent