Safety incidents at Comstock Charter Township parks prompted a nearly two-and-a-half-hour special meeting this week and an emergency authorization to bring in security for the Fourth of July weekend.
The Comstock Charter Township Parks and Recreation Commission met July 1, two weeks before its next regularly scheduled meeting. The sole agenda item was park staff and park safety incidents. No public comment was offered.
What the Commission Heard
Parks & Recreation Director Katie Bush and Ordinance Enforcement Officer Dakota Szczepanski walked the commission through a pattern of incidents that have occurred across Comstock’s parks over the past several weeks, concentrated at Robert Morris Park but also involving Celery Park and Merrill Park.
Szczepanski described a range of enforcement challenges: rule violations, public disturbances, and direct threats directed at park staff. He said he has handled 24 incidents at Robert Morris Park alone since June 11, with additional complaints spread across the other parks. The cumulative effect on park staff has been significant. Szczepanski told the board that following one particularly difficult weekend, staff members told him they did not feel comfortable making direct contact with anyone.
The commission also heard about threats made online against specific individuals following a park rule enforcement action. A police report was filed, but board members noted the limits of law enforcement response in that context.
The meeting touched repeatedly on a structural constraint: the township currently has only one ordinance enforcement officer. The second position, according to the township’s staff directory, is listed as vacant.
The Disc Golf League
A recurring thread through the evening involved a long-standing disc golf league that uses Robert Morris Park. The commission discussed a history of rule enforcement challenges involving the league, including threats made in response to enforcement actions. By the end of the meeting, the board had decided to restrict the league’s access to the park for the remainder of the year.
What the Commission Decided
The board’s formal action came at the end of the meeting: a motion, passed without objection, authorizing Parks Director Katie Bush to negotiate with Township Supervisor Benjamin Martin about hiring security for Robert Morris Park over the holiday weekend, and granting her authority to close the park or operate it without staff if she determines that is necessary for staff and patron safety.
The board was explicit that this is a short-term response to an immediate situation. Longer-term options discussed included hiring a second ordinance officer, establishing a formal code of conduct for park users, equipping staff with body cameras, and exploring coordination with neighboring parks departments. None of those measures were formally adopted.
What Comes Next
The commission’s next regularly scheduled meeting is July 13 at 6:00 p.m. The Township Board meets July 6 and July 20. The board indicated it will continue working on a longer-term staffing and safety strategy, including the open ordinance officer position, at future meetings. There is opportunity for public comment at the meetings.
Watch the meeting with chapter indexing here.
