Summer means fun for most San Diegans. But area users of Kate Sessions Neighborhood Park, overlooking Pacific Beach, are cringing at the idea of another sunny, summer weekend. That’s because the park has become a destination for drinkers from all over Southern California. Since city beaches went alcohol-free, large crowds of drinkers appear in the park on any sunny day, and the problems explode every weekend. The problems that used to be spread out over 27 miles of beachfront are now concentrated into this 17-acre park. Over 600 surrounding residents have signed a petition calling for an alcohol-free policy as the problems increase and resources for existing law enforcement are harder to come by. The problems aren’t confined to holidays, or even to weekends. Businesses operate recreational leagues in the park mid-week, charging for participation in drinking games. On weekends, private parties rope off large sections of the park without getting the required permits from the city, or misrepresent the nature or size of the event on their permit application, such as omitting the intent to use amplified music. No thought is given to disturbing other park users or surrounding neighbors. The tot lot is used for drinking games. Tarps have been put over the playground equipment to create shade for keg party-goers. The surrounding brushy areas are used as trash cans and open restrooms, all in plain sight of children. Broken glass bottles, foul language and ensuing vulgar behavior have created an unsafe environment for family-oriented activities. Irresponsible drinking is the common thread in all of these problems. As the legal drinking ends at 8 p.m., intoxicated drivers are leaving the area for the drive home to communities all over the county and beyond. Is it “just a few bad apples?” After last year’s Fourth of July, SDPD Assistant Chief Shelley Zimmerman described the unruly crowd on the park’s south slope as “1,500 people in different stages of intoxication.” Since the beach ban in 2008, police responses to disruptive incidents at this park have increased three-fold. One remedy is to shift public resources from other city areas to strictly enforce all park rules. That’s the intent for the upcoming Fourth of July weekend. The real solution, however, is to prevent the problems by regulating alcohol consumption in the park. The park’s problems are not unique. Alcohol-related crimes happen throughout San Diego resulting in 88 percent of the 173 neighborhood and community parks having a 24-hour alcohol ban. According to the Pacific Beach Community Plan, Kate Sessions Neighborhood Park “shall serve a population of 3,500 to 5,000 persons within a one-half mile radius.” When unruly drunks chase out intended park users, it’s time for a change. Support for the proposal is unanimous among the area recreation councils, parks and beach committees and the Pacific Beach Planning Group. The next step is for the Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee of the City Council to consider the proposal. Let’s put the “neighborhood” back into Kate Sessions Neighborhood Park. — Kiser and Youngers are founding members of the Friends of Kate Sessions Park, a committee of City Beautiful of San Diego, Inc. This group was formed more than 10 years ago, dedicated to a safe and accessible environment for all park users.