As a resident and/or stakeholder of downtown Winston-Salem I respectfully petition the City of Winston-Salem to temporarily remove the tables and chairs currently placed in Merschel Park while evaluating a long term solution to the issues below. While I appreciate the intent to foster community engagement through public seating, I believe these furnishings have led to unintended negative consequences that diminish the park’s accessibility, safety, and overall experience.
Specifically, the following issues have been observed:
- Obstruction of pedestrian flow: The tables and chairs often block key walkways, making it difficult for visitors, especially those with mobility challenges, to navigate the park safely.
- Congregation and loitering concerns: The seating areas have become hotspots for prolonged gatherings that sometimes result in noise disturbances and littering, detracting from the park’s intended atmosphere of tranquility. Furniture encourages long stays by individuals engaging in disruptive or non-recreational behavior.
- Unintended congregation zones: These areas can become informal hangouts that deter families or other park users.
- Noise disturbances: Groups gathering around seating areas may generate excessive noise, especially during late hours.
- Curfew violations: Regularly observe curfew violations with individuals resting or sleeping at the tables.
- Expanded use of police and city personnel: Increased responsibility to patrol, and intercede in park disturbances.
- Regularly observe urination, defecation, alcohol use, drug use, fighting and drug sales
- Maintenance challenges: The furniture requires frequent upkeep, and when left unattended, it contributes to visual clutter and deteriorates the overall aesthetic of the park.
Merschel Park is a beautiful and symbolic space in our downtown, and I believe its design should reflect both accessibility and intentional use. I urge the city to remove the tables and chairs or relocate them to a more suitable area within the city.
By signing this petition, I affirm our support for this request and encourage city officials to take prompt action.
Updates
Reached 100 supporters
September 25, 2025
37 Comments
Hi, this is Alex. I serve children with developmental disabilities, and I’m concerned about the homeless presence in the park. For the safety of the kids and families, we really need the area cleared and kept safe. Thank you for your help.
My office overlooks the park and I saw two fights today where the police had to come and the people started fighting the police officers. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM!
As someone who works across the street from the park I am more than ready to have the table and chairs removed so I don’t have to listen to the yelling and smell the weed on a daily basis. Thank you for your consideration of this ask.
I have been witnessing the park and area for 17 years crummy co do at One Park Vista. The new park has become a liability to the city rather than the asset it should be. If it and the bus station area are not properly managed/policed, the downtown will be back to where it was when it was deserted creating a major loss of tax revenue to the city as property values will plummet.
If the grant that funded the outdoor furniture just said place in “public park”, can you please move to another park?
Please. It disturbs everyone that passes.
Yes… please remove the chairs and tables.. so scary:(
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As a resident and/or stakeholder of downtown Winston-Salem I respectfully petition the City of Winston-Salem to temporarily remove the tables and chairs currently placed in Merschel Park while evaluating a long term solution to the issues below. While I appreciate the intent to foster community engagement through public seating, I believe these furnishings have led to unintended negative consequences that diminish the park’s accessibility, safety, and overall experience.
Specifically, the following issues have been observed:
- Obstruction of pedestrian flow: The tables and chairs often block key walkways, making it difficult for visitors, especially those with mobility challenges, to navigate the park safely.
- Congregation and loitering concerns: The seating areas have become hotspots for prolonged gatherings that sometimes result in noise disturbances and littering, detracting from the park’s intended atmosphere of tranquility. Furniture encourages long stays by individuals engaging in disruptive or non-recreational behavior.
- Unintended congregation zones: These areas can become informal hangouts that deter families or other park users.
- Noise disturbances: Groups gathering around seating areas may generate excessive noise, especially during late hours.
- Curfew violations: Regularly observe curfew violations with individuals resting or sleeping at the tables.
- Expanded use of police and city personnel: Increased responsibility to patrol, and intercede in park disturbances.
- Regularly observe urination, defecation, alcohol use, drug use, fighting and drug sales
- Maintenance challenges: The furniture requires frequent upkeep, and when left unattended, it contributes to visual clutter and deteriorates the overall aesthetic of the park.
Merschel Park is a beautiful and symbolic space in our downtown, and I believe its design should reflect both accessibility and intentional use. I urge the city to remove the tables and chairs or relocate them to a more suitable area within the city.
By signing this petition, I affirm our support for this request and encourage city officials to take prompt action.
Updates
Reached 100 supporters
September 25, 2025
37 Comments
So many of our downtown businesses have suffered from the unintended consequences of park seating/camping . They are leaving- CVS Tates Mayberry ice cream Others will follow
Hi, this is Alex. I serve children with developmental disabilities, and I’m concerned about the homeless presence in the park. For the safety of the kids and families, we really need the area cleared and kept safe. Thank you for your help.
My office overlooks the park and I saw two fights today where the police had to come and the people started fighting the police officers. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM!
As someone who works across the street from the park I am more than ready to have the table and chairs removed so I don’t have to listen to the yelling and smell the weed on a daily basis. Thank you for your consideration of this ask.
I have been witnessing the park and area for 17 years crummy co do at One Park Vista. The new park has become a liability to the city rather than the asset it should be. If it and the bus station area are not properly managed/policed, the downtown will be back to where it was when it was deserted creating a major loss of tax revenue to the city as property values will plummet.
If the grant that funded the outdoor furniture just said place in “public park”, can you please move to another park?
Please. It disturbs everyone that passes.
Yes… please remove the chairs and tables.. so scary:(
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So many of our downtown businesses have suffered from the unintended consequences of park seating/camping . They are leaving- CVS Tates Mayberry ice cream Others will follow