Lights out at Cleveland park for a month, residents complain about break-ins

CLEVELAND - Hundreds of residents living near Sam Miller Park on Cleveland's east side have dealt with darkness for more than month.

All of the safety lights at the well-kept park have been out since the beginning of May. During that time Cleveland police confirm there have been a series of home break-ins in that neighborhood.

Kevin Samuels, who now needs a wheelchair to get around, finally had to contact the NewsChannel5 Troubleshooter Unit, after he got little response from the power companies and city officials.

"At night, this place is as dark as my pants," said Samuels. "Somebody is going get mugged, it's unsafe."

"I called the Illuminating Company and Cleveland Public Power, and they said the lights were not on their grid. It was so frustrated trying to get this matter addressed since May, so I called you," Samuels added.

Samuels told NewsChannel5 he also called his council member and the Cleveland Department of Parks and Recreation, but received few answers.

5 On Your Side contacted all parties involved in this case, and determined the lights were the responsibility of Cleveland's Division of Public Works. Director Mike Cox was extremely responsive, and had city crews on the scene within a matter of hours.

Cox apologized for the delays, and told NewsChannel5 he would conduct an investigation as to why his department wasn't more responsive to calls from residents living near Sam Miller Park.

Cox reported to NewsChannel5 a dozen lights simply needed to have new bulbs installed, but said five other lights needed to have rewiring performed by the Illuminating Company, before they could return to operation.

Residents should always call multiple city departments when searching for solutions to neighborhood issues. Calling multiple departments, or visiting city hall in-person, will give residents the best chance of talking to the right person in the search for solutions.

NewsChannel5 and newsnet5.com will continue to follow-up on lighting repairs at Sam Miller park.