Mixed feelings on closed Highland Square parking lots; crowds tamped down
After a summer of what residents have described as "off-the-rails" activity in Highland Square parking lots, it appears the raucous crowds have been tamped down after the city recently closed the lots overnights.
"It's definitely cut down on the noise," said John Werner, who has lived in his North Highland Avenue home for 26 years. His house is on the cul-de-sac that abuts the public parking lot serving bars, the library and other businesses.
"There's no more partying, a lot less bottles and cans tossed in the street, very little traffic," he said. "I'm not waking up at 1:30 in the morning for the first time in months."
The city's decision to close the lots came after calls for action reached a fever pitch Sept. 20 during an emergency ward meeting at the Highland Square branch of the Akron-Summit County Public Library.
Police Chief Steve Mylett promised that the city would be implementing new tactics to discourage such gatherings as early as the weekend, but would not specify what those entailed.
By Friday afternoon, signs had been posted throughout the public lot announcing closures between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Violators may be towed or cited for trespassing, the sign said.
Initially, Mylett expressed hesitation about restricting access to the lots, saying crowds might move into residential areas.
But according to nearby residents and police, that wasn't the case.
"I know it’s kind of crazy a bar owner is kind of OK with it even though you’re losing parking," said Steve Tannous, who owns The Matinee. "But for me, it was just a matter of time that word of mouth spread and Highland Square became a ghost town."
Tannous said his biggest issue was the lack of police presence, saying ideally, he would like to see paid parking options for his patrons or an increased number of officers in the area so bargoers still have a place to park.
"But as far as this past weekend, it was almost back to normal when it comes to underages, and I didn’t see any open bottles or anything like that," Tannous said. "Now it’s going to be a process of letting people gain trust again of the area."
Lots closures to continue for now in Akron's Highland Square
Capt. Dave Laughlin, who spoke on behalf of the police department, called the weekend a success, noting "no major issues" with only one arrest Friday and compliance otherwise from people in the area. There was a police presence on foot and in vehicles both Friday and Saturday nights.
He said signs will remain posted in the coming weeks, but it will be up to the police shift leader to determine whether lots will be secured with barricades and chains or if the area will be heavily patrolled.
"We hope it can be a short-term thing and get back to business as usual," Laughlin said.
Confusion and frustration from some workers and bar patrons
The closed lots have posed some confusion and frustration for some bar patrons and employees whose shifts go past 10 p.m.
"I’ve been going to Highland Square for a while and I’ve never seen chained gates — and none of us were paying attention or saw those signs," said Joey Turner, who was in the passenger seat of his friend's vehicle when they crashed into one of the concrete barricades blocking the exit. "You put your blinders up when you're used to things."
Turner and his friend parked earlier in the evening before patronizing some of the local bars and tried to leave at 11 p.m., at which point the lot was already closed.
Police say the driver who crashed through the barricade was arrested on charges of operating a vehicle while impaired.
"It just seemed like there should’ve been way more than just a few signs that went up the day the lots closed," Turner said. "It just didn't seem fair because we didn't feel properly warned. How are people supposed to get out of there?"
Laughlin said officers were warning people that lots were closed.
Activists continue to push for alternate solutions
Not everyone is satisfied with the solution of further police intervention. In light of recent use-of-force interactions, including the fatal police shooting of 25-year-old Jayland Walker in June, several activist groups have proposed alternative solutions to what they say is inequitable overpolicing in the area.
Several of those residents have been patrolling Highland Square on foot for several months, filming interactions with police and trying to mitigate tensions in the area.
"It’s not just a 'watch the police' thing, although that's certainly an element, but we're not being agitators," said Gage Gallaher, a local organizer and Highland Square resident. "We are documenting incidents of racial profiling and making the process of filing a complaint if they have one more accessible."
They've also set up tables outside bars with free water, snacks and community resources, as well as instructions on how to file complaints with the police department.
"We’re trying to be a space of relaxation in the block of chaos going on around here," Gallaher said.
Reporter Abbey Marshall is a corps member with Report for America, a national service program that places journalists into local newsrooms. Learn more at reportforamerica.org. Contact her at at amarshall1@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Measures to curb Highland Square commotion cause mixed feelings
