Duarte : Pamela Park Renovation

A secluded corner of Pamela Park that has served as a shield for drug dealers and gang members is being cleared out under a $22,000 renovation project launched by county officials.

Plans for the park, located in an unincorporated neighborhood southeast of Duarte, include replacing a short block wall with 175 feet of wrought-iron fencing, said Sheila Ortega, a spokeswoman for the county Department of Parks and Recreation. Trees will also be trimmed or removed, and light fixtures will be repaired, Ortega said.

Officials hope the project, funded by Supervisor Pete Schabaraum’s office, will help reduce crime in a neighborhood plagued by cocaine dealing and gang activity.