Fights. Vaping. Tuxedo. Discarded trash. Crowds of teens as large as 80 at a time.
Fights. Vaping. Tuxedo. Discarded trash. Crowds of teens as large as 80 at a time.
One Woodstock family says that’s what they’re dealing with as their home’s front yard has become a gathering place for students from nearby College Avenue secondary school – a nightmare they say includes feeling intimidated by teenagers who claim the yard belongs to them.
“The say it’s their turf and they call it ‘the pit,’” said Kim Wood, who owns the triplex and lives in one of the units. “It’s their hangout now and it’s been nonstop for four years. We feel like we’re the city park for the school.”
Wood says she believes it was picked by the students because the house is set back further than others on their street, allowing more kids to congregate. It’s also near city-owned land that serves as a bus stop.
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The problem started a few years ago when students could no longer smoke on school property, she said, adding at one point students were smoking on one of the triplex’s front porches and police once handed out tickets.
When Wood ventures into her front yard students give her “the evil eye,” she said, expressing frustration during an interview while an estimated 60 kids were on her lawn during a school break.
“Enough is enough – these kids are ruling the school,” she said. “The students have told me 100 times ‘this is ours.’
“One boy cut a hunk of the bark out of a tree held it up and said: ‘This is ours.’”
Wood’s adult son, Jamie Wood, also expressed concerns about “harassment and threats” his parents have faced. He says city council members have expressed concerns but taken “no concrete action” to help them.
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“My family receives no information on whether any steps are being taken to address the situation and the lack of action is profoundly affecting my parents, who are nearing retirement,” he said.
Dennis Wright is the Thames Valley District school board trustee whose portfolio includes College Avenue. He said he’s aware of the ongoing issue.
“There is a bus stop there and because they are grouped up they ended up off of the public property and onto neighboring property,” he said. “I park there quite often and speak to kids and remind them of the rules.”
Wright said it’s his understanding Woodstock city hall is planning to put up a fence to keep students from spilling onto Wood’s property. He said the school board is working with public-health officials on anti-vaping strategies and smoking and vaping prevention.
Coun. Kate Leatherbarrow, who represents the neighborhood on Woodstock city council, did not respond to a Free Press request for comment on Wednesday.
But Kim Wood says officials are “missing the point,” arguing the fence won’t solve her problem.
”I want to use my front yard again,” she said.
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