After triple shooting, Dolores Park neighbors are fed up with violence, drug use and partying

Mark Murphy lives less than a block from Dolores Park where gunfire from a triple shooting was heard throughout the Western edge of San Francisco's Mission District on Thursday, and confirmed an uptick in violence in the area that locals have been complaining about for months.

Murphy is saddened but not surprised by the shocking daylight attack that had police searching for up to five assailants on Friday.

"I have lived on the corner since 2002, don't own a car, and walk up and down Church Street many times a week," he says. "I can confidently say the level and type of violence has been increasing in the past 18 months.

"Some may be outraged and shocked, but they, sadly, are not living on the park and walking in the park as I do many many times a week, at all times of the day."

The 16-acre park with a children's playground and expansive stretch of grass running across a hillside has seen a spate of violent crimes in recent months.

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People walk past the scene of a shooting involving multiple people at Mission Dolores Park August 3, 2017 in San Francisco, Calif. People walk past the scene of a shooting involving multiple people at Mission Dolores Park August 3, 2017 in San Francisco, Calif. Photo: Leah Millis, The Chronicle Buy photo Photo: Leah Millis, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 129 Caption Close After triple shooting, Dolores Park neighbors are fed up with violence, drug use and partying 1 / 129 Back to Gallery

A rogue skateboarding competition turned disruptive when police rushed in to break it up on July 12 and a crowd of nearly 400 faced off with them, shouting and throwing objects.

Two days before, a brawl broke out among about 15 people and a 20-year-old man was stabbed in the late afternoon on July 10.

And two months earlier, a 23-year-old man was hospitalized in life-threatening condition after five assailants brutally beat him with glass bottles and a golf club and stabbed him with a knife in broad daylight on May 18.

Last summer, a 25-year-old man was hospitalized in critical condition after he was beaten and stabbed by a mob of about 10 men on Aug. 29, 2016.

Residents of the area are frustrated and say they've watched the vibe and culture of the park where they walk their dogs and play with their kids transformed in recent years, especially after the park underwent a $20.5 million renovation and reopened in January 2016, attracting massive crowds on sunny days.

Many people who were interviewed for this story say the violence is unacceptable and they're also concerned with car and house break-ins, public displays of drunkenness, drug use, homeless encampments, prostitution and gang activity throughout the neighborhood.

Madeleine Todd lives a block away and says she was tempted to call the police on Thursday when an "alarming" altercation broke out between a teenage couple in front of her house.

Awhile back, Todd says, "two women were so strung out on drugs that they literally fell down on the walkway that bisects the park and the police had to be called."

"I think the park is used by out-of-town people primarily so it's taken on a very bad vibe recently, more gang-like, more aggressive, lots of drugs. It used to be the 'beach' for the Castro and had a great vibe but not any more."

Another neighbor, Marla Stein, who can see the park from her block, described the scene for SFGATE in an email. "I am disgusted by how our neighborhood has done a complete 180 over the past couple of years," she wrote. "I have seen people on my street casing houses, drug needles and condoms on the ground, and sketchy people walking up the hill. I know there was also a home invasion in the house next to mine. I have called the 311 number and use the app numerous times, which has led to no response."

Stein's comment about the lack of police response in the neighborhood is a common theme among neighbors.

Dolores Heights resident Rob Levy says that the police presence isn't commensurate with the number of visitors at the park.

"There's virtually no on-foot police presence, beat cops or engagement within the confines of the park even after years of requests," Levy wrote in an email. "There's never any engagement by police with parties in the park (even just to establish a position of strength or rapport) unless there's a serious altercation or incident, so there's no concern by visitors who come in to drink heavily and openly and to flaunt the rules. Squad car presence around the park can be decent at times on heavily visited weekends or event weekends, but there's a desperate need for presence within the park as well."

Robert Brust, who headed the community group that worked with the city on the plans for Dolores Park, says neighbors are aware of the park's issues and actively talk with police, park rangers and District 8 Supervisor Jeff Sheehy, whose territory includes Dolores Park.

"I am just disappointed we weren't able to have resolution to this problem before there was violence," Brust says. "We are hoping as we move forward that there is better dialogue between the city and the neighbors."

The San Francisco Police Department says they're fully aware of the neighbors' concerns.

"We have had officers who were dedicated to the park and we're increasing the actual times that they'll be at the park," says Officer Robert Rueca, a spokesman for the San Francisco Police Department. "We're dedicating resources to the park with uniformed officers. We're coordinating with Rec and Park as well. You are going to see an increase in police officers. "

"With that in mind with the recent event, we want to take care of the issues in the park," Rueca adds. "It's one of the most beautiful parts of the city. People should continue to go to the park and neighbors should enjoy it as well."