Locals raise concerns about Rancho Mirage park

A reported sexual assault remains under investigation in Rancho Mirage. It happened at about 6:00 p.m. Thursday night in the area of Michael S. Wolfson Park, near Frank Sinatra and Duvall. The park has also been hit by graffiti recently. Some people say they’re concerned about crime in the area. Michael Harrington, a Rancho Mirage resident, says he warned the city about the park’s potential for crime three weeks ago at a parks and trails public meeting. “It’s not lit. It’s obviously an opportunity for crime. If you look at the park it goes into the wash, onto a trail. So it is a security risk,” said Harrington. Other park goers agree that the park needs to be better lit. “I wouldn’t come to this park if it was dark, because its very very dimly it. And along the wash there are no lights,” said another concerned resident. Harrington says he feels let down by the city after asking for their help and then hearing about an alleged sexual assault crime happen at Michael S. Wolfson Park. The city of Rancho Mirage provided us with this statement; “The safety of the community is the city’s number one priority. As details of the incident become available, we will work closely with the sheriff’s department to identify any possible safety improvements to the park and surrounding area.” The reported sexual assault case is under investigation at this time.