Government Springs Park North — Attraction in Enid

This park has so much potential to be a beautiful, family-friendly space, but unfortunately, it has become a gathering place for many people experiencing homelessness. I understand that these individuals are going through very difficult times and deserve compassion and support.

However, during my visits, I had some challenging experiences that made me feel unsafe bringing my children there. On our first visit, a man took my kids’ snacks from a table. The second time, the number of people camped out made us uncomfortable enough to leave. The third time, while trying to fish with my kids, I was approached by three different individuals — one asked for money, another for a cup, and a third for a ride.

I truly believe the city of Enid needs to find a way to help and support these people in need, while also maintaining the park as a safe, welcoming place for families and all community members. Right now, it feels more like a temporary shelter than a public park. I hope a compassionate solution can be found so everyone can enjoy this...

There were too many turtles 🐢 in this pond that constantly swarmed our bobber.

Additionally, it was a bit unnerving to have a young man seemingly well fed and dressed. Approach us and ask us for a dollar. We declined to offer any money and said, "God bless you and good luck." He then turned and walked a couple of steps past us and lingered around our cart, which had my wife's purse in it. He then stepped closer to the cart as he turned around to walk away the same way he came from.

I gave him a big Marine Corps stare, and he turned again and walked straight away from our cart.

Can't say for sure if he was going to pull a snatch and grab, but all my security alarms were going off, and the hair on the back of my wife's neck was standing up.

We think he was going to grab her purse and run because he saw two folks over 60 that may have assumed would be an easy mark.

I can assure you that we're not.

We won't be visiting that place again because it is...

The park looked okay but we were there while I think it was goodwill giving away food. Was kinda turned off by all the people. When we first got there, we thought it was maybe a fair or something, but then we quickly realized they weren't there for the playground, especially when people started telling us the free food is over there. I was very uncomfortable and we decided to leave. We weren't there for free food. My son had been cooped up in the car for hrs and we needed to let him run his energy out. Plus the feeders were completely empty. I'm sure we were there at the wrong time, but we didn't know. We're not from Enid but we prob won't stop at...