Sebastopol decided to stop turning on the existing light fixtures at the skatepark and children's park across from the Barlow. The park area now closes at sundown. This decision came as a surprise to the community who uses the park to paint its public art walls, utilize the children's playground, community garden, and skatepark, since no notice or reason was given to the community or those who volunteer their time at the park. Only after members of the community inquired was it stated that the decision was a response to a recent rise in drug use and violent behavior.

However, simply turning off the park lights will do nothing to resolve the issues being presented. Instead, it will adversely affect this community, from the immediate neighborhood to those across the Bay Area who come to the skatepark. The same negative activities that it proposes to punish could actually arguably benefit from park closure, because the area would be dark, fenced, and isolated for longer periods of time. It would put extra strain on the local police force to have to patrol an empty space that is normally sufficiently monitored by the mature park patrons. It will also have an extra negative impact on the mental health, as we enter the winter months and Daylight savings changes. Many who visit the park use it to maintain physical and mental health through activity, and are completely unable to change their work and school schedules to do so.

People across the entire Bay Area come to Sebastopol to utilize this space and  constantly have had positive feedback regarding the park's build, cleanliness, and friendly active community. We all appreciate this park and want to see it continue to be utilized to it's best potential. And the local community has always been willing to address any issues, and is able to come together to solve problems. We want the city to work with us to find real resolutions with positive outcomes that we can all agree upon, so we can get our lights turned back on!