Shady Park : Crime: Ventura police say Plaza’s trees and beauty mask drug activity and prostitution. But plans are under way to clean up the area.

At first glance, the seamy side of Plaza Park in downtown Ventura is hardly noticeable.

Sunlight streams through the branches of a giant fig tree, planted more than 100 years ago. Children play on swings while couples relax on park benches.

But, for all its beauty, Plaza Park is a center of crime.

“Sure, it’s nice at first blush,” said Ventura Police Sgt. Bob Velez. “But once you spend any time around there, the seedy nature rears its ugly head.”

About two weeks ago, police made 18 arrests around the park in a two-day prostitution sting targeting the park and the surrounding streets of Thompson Boulevard, Santa Clara Street, Chestnut Street and Fir Street.

Five women, ages 23 to 40, were arrested and charged with prostitution. Ten men, ages 28 to 70, were arrested on suspicion of soliciting prostitution from an undercover officer.

Since 1990, two prostitutes have been picked up in separate incidents from the area and badly beaten. Both suffered severe brain damage and have been placed in nursing homes. One man was arrested in connection with one of the cases, but the suspect in the other beating is still at large.

Authorities say they also have received repeated complaints from women who said they have been harassed while walking in the park, but so far there have been no reported attacks on passersby.

Several months ago, police arrested a man at the park who was wanted for manslaughter in a case that occurred outside the area.

“The guy just happened to be sitting there,” Sgt. Roger Nustad said.

Police say the criminals are attracted to the park because they can linger in the shade of the large trees without much notice.

The park’s restroom and a hill shielded by willowy trees near the edge of the park have become the prime locations inside the park for drug dealing and prostitution, police say.

“Its a secluded area in a rather built-up urban area,” Velez said. “They use it as a safe haven.”

But Ventura officials say they are determined to clean up the city’s oldest park, which covers about 3.7 acres.

Six undercover officers keep a close watch on the area, and city officials have hired an architect to redesign parts of the park to discourage crime.

“We’re doing all kinds of sneaky stuff,” said Sgt. Carl Handy, adding that police are planning more sweeps.

Within the next few months, plans for building a new restroom are expected to go to the City Council for approval, city officials said. A panel of city officials and police officers is reviewing the plans.

So far, preliminary proposals call for placing the restroom away from the hilly area so that it can be more easily viewed. Also, the restroom will be vandal-proof, said City Engineer Ron Calkins.

The city has set aside about $100,000 for the project. Calkins said officials are also considering leveling the hill, which could be replaced with a gazebo.

Officials also hope that the total revitalization of the downtown area--set to take place within the next few years--will also discourage criminal activity at the park.

Despite the efforts, however, workers at the businesses surrounding the park say they wish more immediate measures could be taken to combat the problems.

Although police say they have no record of any child being hurt by criminal elements who use the park, some say they are fearful that it is only a matter of time.

“We’re always calling the police to check things out,” said one area worker, who asked not to be identified. “It cleans up for a day or two, then it always starts up again.”

Ironically, some of the parents who take their children to the park are unaware of the problems, officials said.

“I’m so busy watching my children, I don’t have time to look around,” said one mother, who asked not to be identified.

Mark Shields, a 28-year-old homeless man who spends his afternoons at the park, said he has never witnessed a crime there.

“I’ve always known this to be a very safe park,” Shields said.

Donald Provencio, 20, a security guard at the Wells Fargo Bank across the street, said he watches people parading in and out of the park restrooms all day long.

“It’s gets pretty intense over there,” Provencio said. “You have to ask yourself, why are so many people stopping in the middle of town to use the restroom?

“It’s such a beautiful park on the outside. I see tourists stop to take pictures all the time. But what is going on on the inside is a whole other story.”