"It was 12 years ago; the music was so loud that our baby daughter, Rachel, couldn't sleep," Chapa said. "I walked across the street and found three drunkards. I asked them to turn down the music and ended up with a knife in my back."

Chapa and concerned neighbors initiated a campaign to ban alcohol in the park and succeeded. The park was peaceful for awhile; then the same problems returned and became even worse, Chapa said.

His worries are not groundless.

According to the San Jose Police Department, there is an increase of crimes in the park. Four bodies were found in the park between Jan 1 and Aug. 26. During the same period, there were 25 incidents of disturbance, 30 reports of suspicious vehicles and 12 cases of vehicle burglaries. Some other crimes included drinking, using drugs, having sex in public and assaulting with deadly weapons. The police department says it is also investigating whether gang members use the park for a meeting place.

Now Chapa and his wife, Stephanie, have asked the community to unite again to get rid of crimes in the park.

"What's sad is that families stop going to the park any more," Chapa said. "We need to take a zero-tolerance approach so our children can use the park again and become parts of the community."

For the past six months, the couple has held two meetings with neighbors and police officers to discuss ways to combat crimes in the park.

With the help of San Jose District 6 Councilman Ken Yeager, the Chapas held another meeting on Sept. 19, at which residents could express their concerns to police officers and representatives from the city's parks, transportation and animal control departments.

About 100 neighbors within 100 feet of the park attended the meeting. Despite the high turnout, the community was divided over whether residents should allow their dogs off leash in the park as police officers will begin writing citations to people who break municipal codes, such as consuming alcohol in the park and letting dogs off leash.

"I walk my dog on or off leash to the park every day," said Maureen Meagher, who wore a tag that said "Willow Glen dog group." "All I see are families. What Mr. Chapa has experienced has not been my experience."

Wednesday Dull, who wore a red tag saying "see spot run," said the true meaning of a neighborhood park is to have a park used by families and dogs.

"A neighborhood park cannot be called a neighborhood park if neighbors cannot walk their dog in the park," Dull said.

The fact that having dogs off-leash became the meeting's focus disappointed the Chapas.

"The community lost sight of the main issue," said Juan Chapa. "What we are trying to accomplish is that neighbors won't walk across the street and become the next victim. But what I have heard from the meeting is that people are more concerned about their dogs. I am sure some dog people can see the depth of my agenda, but they shouldn't use my meeting as a forum to talk about their own issues."

A separate meeting may be held to address dog owners' concerns.