There’s a place to feed the hungry; it’s not the park

Lions Park is just that -- a park.

It’s a place for children to play on swings and slides, a place

for families to have picnics or for couples to take leisurely strolls

through the greenery.

So the idea that it had become a new place to feed the homeless on

weekends naturally touched a nerve with some Westside residents, who

already have their fair share of charitable relief organizations as

neighbors.

And we have to say, we agree with those Westsiders who complained

that the homeless were defecating and leaving trash and drug

paraphernalia in the park.

It’s not that we don’t commend Betty Abbott and Jerry Face for the

work they did to feed the less fortunate. We do. They insist that

they cleaned up after their gatherings, and we believe them.

And we also don’t want to pretend that the homeless don’t belong

in a park. Of course, they have every right to be there like anyone

else.

But the promotion of a food giveaway will bring a much larger

number, and we just believe a public park is the wrong place for that

worthy cause.

City officials agreed and clamped down on the members of the

singles ministry for feeding homeless in the park without a permit.

Luckily, though, Pastor Dale Fitch of the Lighthouse Church came

to the rescue.

Call it divine inspiration, but Fitch just happened to be looking

for a way to help the community when he was approached by Abbott, who

told him of her plight at Lions Park and the need for a new home for

the ministry.

The church leader quickly agreed to allow the homeless to

congregate at his church for the free meals, and now everyone is

happy -- including us.

We don’t mean to use this as a bully pulpit, but let this be a

lesson to those eager to help the needy that their desire to do that

can’t interfere with the basic rights of the public to enjoy simple

pleasures such as going to the park.

The Westside is deep in the throes of change. Charities and

organizations that feed the homeless have come under fire by Westside

activists, who believe they are magnets for vagrants and illegal

immigrants.

There’s no need to fuel that fire by urging homeless to congregate

in city parks or any other place where the public gathers at large.