After a pilot program, Salinas agrees to a one-year private security contract at Closter Park.

Going for a walk, spending a day in the grass and playing basketball are part of the routine for people who live near Closter Park, the most-visited park in Salinas.

Unfortunately, it isn’t only a place where people socialize or exercise; the area has a history of gang activity and drug and alcohol abuse, contributing to visitors feeling unsafe recreating there.

To address this, Salinas is looking to private security. On Sept. 26, the City Council approved a one-year contract for up to $80,000 with Salinas-based Kysmet Security & Patrol, following a pilot program.

The pilot began in April, with Kysmet patrolling the area daily from 3-11pm for 90 days. Council extended that for two additional months, for a total cost of $31,136 for the pilot.

During the pilot, city officials logged 50 incidents related to alcohol and drug use and vandalism. But residents who use the park regularly, including members from Salinas Boxing Club and National Little League, report that the security presence has had a positive impact.

Pablo Guerrero, who has sold Mexican snacks at the park every day for three years, says more people have been visiting the park since April when security started patrolling. “Kids didn’t go to the kiosk before, and now you see a lot of kids there,” Guerrero says in Spanish. “There is a lot of happiness and love for the kids, and people in the community are happier.”

City Councilmember Tony Barrera says the security presence makes visitors feel safer, but he continues to hear concerns from constituents, particularly moms taking children to the bathroom. He’d like to see a guard positioned specifically near the bathrooms regularly in the year ahead.