When asked about whether they would take their families to downtown Hartford in light of recent murders in the city, parents said they're cautiously optimistic about their safety.
"We live in the Bristol area but still close enough where it makes you feel a little bit uncomfortable," said Ryan Schlagenhauf, who has two sons.
He said when the capital city's new minor league baseball stadium, Dunkin Donuts Park, is complete and the Hartford Yard Goats start playing games, he will be careful about when he chooses to take the family.
"Maybe during the day I might feel a little bit more comfortable but I don’t know if I would go to a night game, if I’m being honest," he said.
Mayor Pedro Segarra said the city has seen record attendance at events like Riverfest, Jazzfest, and the Caribbean Festival, showing him people are not afraid of random acts of violence that have transpired in some neighborhoods.
"We need to make sure that people feel safe in all parts of the city, because a lot of these events take place in crowded areas and we want to make sure people feel safe throughout the city," he said during an interview Monday.
Other parents said they didn't have worries about spending time in Hartford.
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Royland, a father of two daughters, said most of the murders "haven't been random acts," which is why he's not worried for his family.
Jana Dunbar, a mother from Bethlehem, said she thinks common sense will prevent anyone in her family from getting into a scary situation.
"We keep an eye on each other. It's fun. It's a place for people to live and hang out," she said.
