On a Sunday evening at Center Lake, a man wades knee-high into the calm waters along the beach with a metal detector, while a few couples and others sit along the shore watching the sun set.

A large family on the west end of the park enjoys a cookout and a few men sit on the pier with fishing lines cast into the water.

Quietly, a lanky teen, with a ball cap that is reversed and jeans that scream to redefine baggy, crosses the park to the pavilion, where a few other young people are standing outside.

Teens with the hip-hop look often associated with gangs still hang around the pavilion, but the park has been much quieter since a 17-year-old was beaten with baseball bats by a group of teens two months ago.

Unlike past summers, when spring turned to summer this year, the number of teens gathering near the pavilion began to increase and were accompanied by some fights.

Stepped-up patrols in the park, using squad cars, a bike patrol and a civilian officer hired this summer, appear to have quieted conditions.

"Just having eyes and ears there is making a difference," said Police Chief Craig Allebach.

Some alleged "troublemakers" also were kicked out of the park. A few were kicked out permanently, and face trespassing charges if they return.

In the past two months, police issued citations to 34 people for curfew violations, including seven at Center Lake.

Police are unsure where the young people are congregating now. Checks at other potential hangouts, including Pike Lake and Boggs Industrial Park, turned up little activity.

The number of people using the park this summer has remained the same as in past years. If the beating and added patrols were cause for alarm, park patrons don't show it.

"I don't feel intimidated," said Paul Lackey, an Atwood man who walked around Center Lake park with his grandson, Sebastian.

He said he doesn't feel as if urban crime has spread its way into Kosciusko County.

"I feel we have a pretty safe community," he said.

Tracy Reynolds, a mother who came to KiddieLand Monday night with other mothers and children, said she's felt a little intimidated by the young people, but was never fearful of harm.

She spoke of more concern about burglaries than park safety.

"It's kind of scary because of all the break-ins, but I don't know if it's even teen-related," Reynolds said.

But she added: "I think Warsaw is a great place to live."

An effort by the city to prevent loitering is apparently working. An ordinance establishing protected properties went into effect earlier this year and has reduced the number of teens congregating on commercial properties.

The ordinance, aimed at reducing loitering and skateboarders, requires business owners to post signs.

Posting protected property signs has led to youths going elsewhere, he said.

In many cases, the loitering was causing more of an annoyance than any criminal behavior, Allebach said.

The city has also seen a decline in vandalism following the establishment of the bike patrol one year ago. The patrol is funded with grant money.

Allebach said the added patrols should be expected with recent park improvements such as the year-old Central Park and the future flower garden near North Detroit Street. [[In-content Ad]]