Members of the Nevada City Council pledged an invigorated effort to clean up and refurbish Calanan Park, a popular, but sometimes sketchy, entry point into the city’s historic downtown.

The council decided Wednesday to create a committee solely focused on upgrading the park on Broad Street, which is often frequented by the homeless and has sometimes been labeled as a place of illicit drug activity.

The proposal to create a committee of members of the city council and parks and recreation members takes the previously discussed concept of adding piped-in music and art projects a step further by focusing on improving the overall look and character of the park.

Councilwoman Sally Harris suggested having monthly updates at the council level to discuss issues solely focused on the park.

“We need to take this issue from the perspective that this park is the entryway to downtown,” Harris said.

Suggestions from business owners and cooperation from the city’s police department should be incorporated into any discussion about Calanan Park, she said.

“We need to really broaden this issue,” Harris said. “It’s more than just the redesign of Calanan Park.”

Councilman David McKay said he’d like to see suggestions to draw people into the park, and not simply to discourage a particular type of group to the park.

The city has sharpened its focus on Calanan Park over the past year, floating the idea of an anti-loitering law, which is not being considered presently. The city tried such a law in 1998, but people turned it down. Police have stepped up patrols near the park in response to citizen inquiries.

Residents spoke in favor of upgrading the park, with resident Shawn Tuttle asking the council to keep alive the proposal to bring art projects to the park.

To contact Staff Writer David Mirhadi, e-mail dmirhadi@theunion.com or call 477-4239.