Residents in Winston-Salem are raising growing concerns about safety at Hobby Park after reports of large, rapidly growing gatherings involving teenagers and college-aged individuals.
According to a post shared by resident Kay Daisy in the Ardmore Neighborhood Facebook group, the park has recently seen mass parties that escalate within a short period of time, drawing anywhere from 50 to as many as 200 people.
Daisy warned community members not to take their families to the park, describing situations where gatherings have quickly turned chaotic.
In her post, she claimed that on one occasion, two groups nearly engaged in a physical confrontation, forcing her to drive through the area as tensions unfolded behind her vehicle.
She also stated that there is only one main exit from the park, which can make it difficult for visitors to leave when large crowds gather.
According to the same post, law enforcement has been called to the park multiple times in recent weeks. Daisy further alleged that officers were once forced to shut down a road near the park following an overturned vehicle, leaving attendees temporarily unable to exit the area.
She added that city officials are reportedly aware of the situation, and some colleges have allegedly warned students that disciplinary action, including expulsion, could follow involvement in such gatherings.
The discussion quickly drew responses from other residents, with some saying the issue is not entirely new. One commenter, Loumay Mendez, questioned long-term awareness of the park’s reputation, writing,
“I’m curious how many people that go to hobby park especially with children have lived in WS very long? Even 30 years ago hobby park was known for other types of ‘hobbies’.”
Loumay Mendez
Others expressed surprise that the area had become active again in this way. Mark Thomas Jr. commented, “I’m from Clemmons, and I forgot hobby park existed tbh,” reflecting how some nearby residents are not frequently exposed to activity in the park.
Police called, roads blocked, crowds scattered
Several residents described recent incidents involving police presence and heavy traffic disruptions. Susan Cotner Dinkins shared her experience of regularly passing the area, stating,
“I drive past the park every weekday. It’s been going on for a while now. My lane has been blocked on several occasions because they park all along Clemmonsville Rd and walk in the traffic lane going and coming from the gatherings.”
Susan Cotner Dinkins
She added that traffic has come to a standstill during some of the events and that police have had to step in to clear the area. “We were rerouted by police last weekend and had to go around the world to get home. It’s ridiculous,” she said.
Another resident, Crystal Sprinkle, said she unintentionally drove through one of the gatherings, describing a chaotic scene along the road. “It was pretty chaotic along the road. The worst part for me was the 50 cop cars and their blinding flashing lights, making it about impossible to see while driving through it,” she wrote.
Some commenters believe the issue is being fueled by social media. Symone Mychelle Wright suggested that the gatherings may be linked to viral trends, writing,
“It’s a social media challenge. HS kids have been doing that at trampoline parks across the country since spring break. It’s less of a ‘don’t take your family’ issue and more of a ‘don’t let your teenagers go unattended’ issue.”
Symone Mychelle Wright
Meanwhile, others worry the situation could worsen if left unchecked. Dallas Grey Settle commented, “It’ll escalate, I’m sure to fights and a shooting before it’s over,” reflecting heightened concern among some local users.
Despite differing opinions on the cause, residents agree that Hobby Park has seen a noticeable shift in activity, with many calling for increased monitoring and clearer preventive measures to ensure public safety.
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