Karstens Park is home to a playground, a basketball court, and a baseball diamond. After decades, the fence was removed in October, but community members say that leaves children at risk of being hurt by nearby traffic, which surrounds the park on all four sides.
James Garbett is a Moline resident who has lived in the neighborhood around Karstens Park for over 70 years. He says the Moline Police Department counted the traffic that ran alongside the park.
"In seven days, there were 25,000 cars that went down there, as one person said, a few feet from home plate."
With a reported 1% of cars speeding on that road, that's an average of 35 speeding cars per day. Garbett says there have already been some near misses as children have wandered near traffic.
Residents of the neighborhood have petitioned the Moline Park Board to restore the fence, but so far no action has been taken.
"The park board, quite frankly, they have not asked a neighbor, they have not sought council from the Park Keepers--those are the people that help out with the park and clean the restrooms, etc.--I was astonished that none of these people were asked."
Garbett says city council members and other elected officials have been more receptive to concerns than the Park Board.
Karstens Park is at the corner of 22nd Avenue and 6th Street.