Oxford Gazebo Closed Due to Youth Abuse
Folks in downtown Oxford are feeling frustrated by the actions of some local youth.
When lunch time comes around, on weekdays, some students from the Oxford Regional Education Centre (OREC) take the short walk downtown for snacks and to hang out with their friends.
One group has taken up residence in the town's gazebo, at Heritage Square on Main Street, and certain individuals are causing some consternation among the locals.
Parents have complained on social media about this group bullying other children walking past, to and from the grocery store. Others have reported littering and public urination inside the community space.
Some community members are calling for action — ranging from engaging the youth constructively, to levying fines for those who litter or damage the gazebo.
Other suggestions included playing classical music over a loudspeaker to "drive the kids away".
One parent reminded others that “we were all kids once,” and to talk with the youth about their behaviour.
Others wondered if the RCMP had any contact with the group.
Responding to some of the harsher comments, another parent noted, “be careful what you complain about. Someone might see your kid misbehaving as well.”
Oxford Town Councillor Chrystal MacNutt, who oversees the Recreation Committee, says the gazebo was temporarily closed due to repeated incidents with garbage. She says the public works department has had to clean it up multiple times over a short period, but it will re-open.
MacNutt takes issue with the view expressed on social media that "there's nothing to do" for kids in Oxford. She says OREC has four soccer teams that practice or play four nights per week; Springhill and Amherst rinks have their ice in, and Oxford will have ice in the arena very soon thanks to a community group that is taking on rink programming again this year; the County has multiple 4-H groups that are active all year long; the town boasts a new boxing club on Water Street that is open for interested youth to join; there are residents in town who offer voice, guitar and piano lessons to youth; Oxford boasts an "awesome" skate park at Lower Main and Little River Road, and for kids interested in cadets, there is a group that operates out of Springhill. MacNutt added that over the summer, Oxford Minor Baseball had over 100 youths sign up for their programme, with two teams winning their division's pennant.
The councillor says, “If these aren't enough options for bored teens, then many local businesses are desperately looking for part-time employees, and "the idea that the destruction of public property and the blatant disrespect for people is caused by teens who are just bored does not sit well with me. There are lots of things in this town to keep the other 99% of our teens busy! Boredom is not the problem.”
Problems with youth behaviour at the gazebo has come up before. The matter was on the agenda of Oxford's Police Advisory Board this year as early as January and again in April, with the RCMP intending to look into the matter.
The photos show the gazebo is now off-limits as issues escalate while local youth hang-out.
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