FORT MYERS, Fla. -- In the hidden corners of an abandon library in Rutenberg Park, are piles of leftover beer bottles, condoms and blunt wrappers. The ones involved are kids as young as 13 and now some of them are in rehab centers.
“It was sad to me that I wasn’t going to be able to allow him to go to the park anymore," said Scott, one concerned parent.
Scott said since his son came home high one day nearly a year ago, he has spent his free time cleaning up wrappers, baggies and cans. The park sits right across the street from Cypress Lake Middle and High School, leading him to ask the County and police for help. But still, he often feels alone.
"Basically keep an eye on things myself, because I didn’t know if the police were.”
In documents obtained by Fox 4, Lee County deputies have been doing area checks twice a week on average, while the Lee County Parks & Recreation say "rangers routinely patrol Rutenberg Community Park."
The father of two explained that the closing of Fort Myers Skate Park in 2016 left a lot of kids in the nearby area with nothing to do but turn to illegal behavior. Scott tells Fox 4 that another skate park closer to home would keep many of the kids busy and out of trouble.
“They had no where to go and nothing to do.”
