SACRAMENTO, Calif. — AMF Land Park Lanes recently announced it's closing after a fire last month devastated the bowling alley. Nearby residents are concerned and fed up with the damage.
"It was deep sorrow, deep deep sorrow," said Mangan Park Neighborhood Association President Jennifer Holden.
She told ABC10 the bowling alley closing is yet another hit to the Freeport Boulevard business corridor.
South Land Park Neighborhood Association (SLPNA) President Anthony Jackson told ABC10 they are concerned over possibly losing another business along Freeport Boulevard to a future fire.
"I think we can all agree that we, the South Land Park Neighborhood Association, along with the members of the community, are tired of seeing fires burning down businesses along Freeport Boulevard commercial corridor," he said. "The loss of the bowling alley is especially painful since it’s one of the few entertainment venues in this section of the city, which serves customers well beyond South Land Park."
According to the Sacramento Fire Department, a couch fire spread to the bowling alley causing damage. While fire officials ruled it accidental, there are still questions over how the fire started.
"It appears accidental at this point, but human caused. There is no evidence that shows this was an intentionally set fire," said Fire Captain Justin Sylvia.
Just a block away, the Hong Kong Islander restaurant was shut down last April — also because of a fire.
"Our cultural centers, our places where we meet our friends and our family to get together, those are fading until we're left saying, 'Well, what's left? What do we still have? Who's next?'" Holden said. "We have no absolute information that it definitely is. However, like much of Sacramento, there is a significant homeless population here."
Sacramento city councilmember and vice mayor Caity Maple says she shares concerns with Holden about recent fires in the area.
One thing Maple says she's interested in creating is a Property Business Improvement District on Freeport Boulevard. It's a strategic way the city council can work with community members to see improvements.
"That's essentially the property owners within that geographic area coming together, agreeing to assess a tax on themselves so that they can produce revenue to do security, to staff, to ensure that there's cleanups, everything," she said.
ABC10 reached out to AMF Land Park Lanes for comment and have yet to hear back.
Read the full statement from Sacramento City Fire Captain Justin Sylvia below:
We are aware of the concern from community members regarding fires along Freeport Boulevard. The Sacramento Fire Department encourages members of the community to call 311 if they have non-emergency concerns and to always call 911 if they have a serious or life-threatening concern such as an active fire. Our investigators work tirelessly to find evidence and video surveillance footage to prove arson. Arson is a very difficult crime to prosecute since most of the evidence in these fires is consumed as the fire burns. Witnesses and clear pictured video surveillance assist our investigators in making arrests.
