HARRINGTON, Del. - The city of Harrington is getting a new park.
It is a park that is being paid for, not just from donations, but from a drug bust in which police confiscated more than $200,000. More than $20,000 of that cash is going toward the new park.
"I'm just glad they're doing something good for the community with that money. Taking something bad and turning it into something good is always a wonderful thing," said Constance Johnson of Harrington.
"It's a wonderful thing to have a meeting place for community members to congregate and discuss things, things that are affecting the community like drugs and crime and the like," said Constantia Johnson of Harrington.
Constance Johnson and her twin sister Constantia have lived in Harrington for about five years. They are hoping the project builds unity between police and the community.
"With the police department, people always see us on different sides, maybe arresting people, but the whole goal of this is to build positive community policing," said Chief Norman Barlow of the Harrington Police Department.
The park is located next to the police station. The oversized gazebo is nearly complete. The next phase is to build a bandstand.
Barlow says he hopes to have events like movie nights and live bands performances.
"When it was just an open lot, we've been telling the community stay with us. Next year when you come back for the tree lighting, there will be something more," said Harrington Mayor Robert "Gene" Price.
"When we do special events like the Heritage Days, caroling and tree lighting, and the Harrington Police Department's Night Out, we hope downtown businesses will be able to use that to their advantage and draw people downtown because we want to keep our downtown vital," said Harrington City Manager Terri Tieman.
Some say the park could be a resource for young people.
"Maybe the young people could gain some trust. Indirectly that would affect the crime rate and drug activity and the like," said Constantia Johnson.
People in Harrington say it's a wonderful thing that's hoping to bring a community closer together.
Barlow says a portion of the drug money is going toward things like extra policing on the war on drugs.
(Photo: WBOC)
