Neighbors concerned with late night activity at Fort Myers’ Jefferson Park

FORT MYERS, Fla.- Neighbors are raising concerns over teenagers’ use of Jefferson Park as a spot to drink, smoke marijuana, and even deal drugs.

“A lot of teenage kids come here and they’re here all night because nobody knows where this park is. I think it’s pretty secluded, you can kind of get away with whatever you want,” said Jose Ortiz.

Residents are fed up saying groups of people are disturbing their quiet neighborhood.

Ortiz and others say teenagers are staying late into the night to smoke cigarettes and marijuana, drink, and move around the park equipment.

City workers add in the past few weeks, they’ve had to replace a gazebo roof that’s been torn up. Across the street from the park, a group of palms were trimmed to keep people out. City workers say people would hide within the trees to be able to drink and smoke without getting caught.

Some neighbors suggest it’s typical teenage behavior

“Teenagers do the teenage thing,” said Jeremy Kanable. “If they ain’t going to do it here then they’re going to do it somewhere else.”

But many still say it’s not acceptable in their backyard and they hope officials will patrol the area more often.

“I have been seeing the cops around too which usually they’re not around here,” Ortiz said. “So seeing them around, somebody is doing something about it so that’s nice.”