Tucked away like a secret just south of Metrotown, Ledingham Park has been receiving some unwanted attention during the past two years, according to local residents.
The summer of 2010 was terrible, but this past summer there were "bursts of problems" as well, according to Debra Morgan, Block Watch captain for the neighbourhood surrounding the park.
The tiny park sits between Waverley and Jubilee avenues, and Victory and Watling streets, hidden behind houses in the area and only accessible through two back lanes.
"It's not visible from the street," Morgan said. "There's a little kids playground, a bench and a basketball hoop. It's clearly meant for children to use."
Despite the park's intended use, it has attracted an older crowd, she said, with teenagers and young adults showing up to party there on summer evenings after dark.
Residents have observed what they believe are drug deals - people exchang-ing things from their car windows in the lane, and driving off before the police arrive, after residents call in complaints.
The most recent and disturbing incident, though, took place on Sept. 16, when more than a dozen - Morgan estimates it was about 25 - people showed up in the evening at about 10 p.m., she said. A fence in the area had some boards removed by the revellers.
Multiple residents called in complaints, and the Burnaby RCMP came to break up the party.
Because of this, and previous incidents, residents want the city to institute a curfew, closing access to parks after dusk, Morgan said.
"There's no reason for people to be in parks after dark," she said.
Two other area residents, Thomas Hasek and Gurch Ollek, have contacted the city about the issue.
"I want the park to be a safe place for kids to use," said Hasek, who has lived in the neighbourhood since 1978.
Over the years, the problem has increased, but so far the summer of 2010 was the worst.
"We've never had a consistent problem like we did (in 2010)," he said.
Last summer, there was more activity than normal, he added.
He would like to see access to the park from one of the lanes blocked off, to make it more difficult for drug dealers to enter and leave the area, Hasek said.
The matter has been referred to the city's department of parks, recreation and cultural services.
Dave Ellenwood, direc-tor of the department, said city staff are looking at the issue and will bring it back to the parks commission.
Regarding night closures of Burnaby parks, Ellenwood said it's an issue that has been looked at before.
"It's absolutely a valid consideration to see if it works," he said, adding, "we're pulling information from our files."
He hopes to get a report back to the commission, to be brought to council, either this month or in December.
Cpl. Brenda Gresiuk, media relations officer for the Burnaby RCMP, said five files have been opened on the park this year.
There have been repeated complaints of disturbances and suspicious activities, she said, but added it is not considered a problem area.
"We wouldn't consider it to be a hotspot," Gresiuk said, adding that's not to say the neighbourhood concerns aren't valid.
