Safety of Railroad Park in question after weekend incidents

Several arrests were made after a disturbance in and around Birmingham's Railroad Park Sunday.

The incident has some folks questioning the safety of the park. In a YouTube video, there's a group of teenagers being rowdy, yelling, and cursing. Then you hear gun shots and everyone scatters.

It all happened near Railroad Park Sunday shortly after police say a fight broke out inside the park.

Johnny Arrington frequents the park. He said, "We just ought to be fed up with nonsense. You can't even go to a park relax with your family."

Sarah McConnell said, "That would definitely frighten me." McConnell is glad she wasn't there with her son when all the violence happened. But she's not too surprised about it.

McConnell added, "It's not really safe anywhere I guess if you think about it. But you hope it wouldn't happen at a place where people take their families. It doesn't necessarily make me want to stop coming."

Camille Spratling, the Executive Director of the park says security is taken very seriously.

Spratling said, "For the slim number of people who are not able to follow the park rules, they will be removed immediately. Just like they were the other night." But for some people, hearing about all of this is unsettling.

Carl Carren said, "I'd like to be able to come out here and enjoy myself, have a good time. But things like that make me not want to come out you know."

Johnny Arrington says he'll keep coming because he loves the park, he just hopes it remains peaceful.

Arrington said, "I say to those people who are ignorant, because that's what they are, stay away from the park."

Camille Spratling with Railroad Park says officials will continue to upgrade and modify security.

There are more than 30 surveillance cameras positioned throughout the park and she says there's security 24/7, even when the park is closed.

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