University Park Hold Public Meeting in Wake of Rape

University Park city officials are wanting to make their community more safer after an Southern Methodist University student was raped earlier this month.

The rape happened at Humann Park off Willard Drive while the student was jogging.

On Monday, investigators released a sketch of the suspect. He is described as a black male, in his early twenties, with a football player build.

The University Park city manager Robbie Corder held a public meeting at Humann Park on Wednesday to get ideas from residents about ways to make the area safer.

City crews have already cut back tree limbs and brush in the area to make the park more open.

Some ideas from residents included adding additional lights, installing surveillance cameras, and asking police to add more patrols to the area.

The city manager said he did receive several e-mails from residents concerned about crime in the area, and says he hopes to make improvements soon.

"Pretty quick," said Corder. "I think there are some things we can do immediately, in the near future, and not take our time. The lighting in the trees is not a huge capital expense that we can consider improving pretty quickly."

Residents also made Corder walk down to the end of the park where there is an access from the DART train station at University Drive. They say people are using Humann Park as a cut through from the station to Lovers Lane.

They have asked city officials to consider building a wall or gate to prevent people from using the park as a walk through.

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