Western Park, Oak Cliff

Western Park (also known as West Haven Park) is a small neighborhood in Southwest Oak Cliff under South Cockrell Hill, Texas. It is predominantly Hispanic. It is the 2nd worst area in Dallas, and is ridden with poverty, but it has acceptable education.

Geography

Even though the Dallas area is mostly flat, Western Park is built on a large hill, and has all kinds of trees (even small palm trees) growing in the area. Downtown Dallas would be visible, but the trees go over the neighborhood, blocking its view.

Knowledge is Power

On the side of the local corner store, is a mural showing "Knowledge is Power". This mural was created because of the constant violence across the street at the Western Park Village shopping center between the Crips and Bloods.

Education

The education in Western Park is above average. The Mountain View College, which is across the street from Molina High School is one of the top community colleges in Dallas. The children were expected to go from Leslie A. Stemmons Elementary School for Kinder through 6th Grade, New Vision for Junior High, Molina for High School, then to Mountain View for college, but instead, after middle school, the students go to Justin F. Kimball High School. All of these schools instead of Kimball are coincidentally on the same two streets.

Crime & Police

The crime in Western Park is 2nd to South Dallas. It was once the worst place in Dallas. Western Park has many gangs, and a notoriously dangerous park. The police respond very quickly there, though. Constables, who do some work for police when they are doing more important things, harass the neighborhood.

Gangs

This neighborhood has a serious gang problem. There are more than 60 gangs, and more than 20 territories. The gangs in 2004 made the neighborhood the worst area in Dallas. Some of the main gangs are Westurn Park B.G/O.Gs, Image Crips, B-Doggs, Cockrell Hill BMG (Bout Money Gang), West Village Bloods, and East Village Crips. After Hurricane Katrina and Gustav, the neighborhood got worse. The neighborhood has a rivalry with East Dallas and Arcadia Park.

Blokkas

Every block in the neighborhood has a gang. The E. Blokkas and the O. Blokkas are enemies. The E. Blokkas are all the even blocks, such as 4200 Block, and O. Blokkas are odd, such as 4300 Block.