People say loitering, drug use, sex acts, gang initiation are common problems at parks in Watsonville and Salinas. In both cities, people are starting to do something about it.
"We have people now that are willing to step up and tell the kids to behave, not to grafitti, not to throw garbage in the park, not to destroy it," said Salinas resident Antonio Rabago.
One newly formed neighborhood watch group is doing it in an unusual way. In Salinas' Monte Bella section, they're holding a big yard sale to raise money. The cash will help buy neighborhood watch signs since the city can't afford them.
"Let people that need to know that whatever they have planned to come and do here, they will be watched. They will be supervised and anything that's not right, we will bring it up to their attention," said Rabago.
In Watsonville, the city is getting involved to enforce park rules and regulations people aren't following.
"We're going to be investing $35,000 from park & rec fees and our priority is to make the neighborhood safe," said Watsonville City Council member Oscar Rios.
The plan also includes installing surveillance cameras. People in both cities hope their efforts will make a difference.
"The bigger we get the more things we can do, the better control we'll have and look out for our neighborhood thats all. We don't mind what everybody else thinks and does but this is what we like and its what we want to keep," said Rabago.
