STEUBENVILLE – A street-smart resident of the neighborhood surrounding Piece of Pie Park in Steubenville said most of the city’s drug violence stems from two street gangs – the “Grape Street Gang” and the “So Nike Boys.”

The tiny park, which by appearance resembles a playground, has become the epicenter of what city and Jefferson County law enforcement officials are calling a deadly wave of gang violence.

“The gang members range in age from 13 to 28 years,” the woman, who asked to remain anonymous, said. “They are trying to run the Chicago people out of town.”

She said Steubenville in recent years has become a target city for Chicago drug dealers who are competing for a share of the local illicit drug trade.

A man accompanying the woman said older gang members are bullying the very youngest ones.

“They are getting the young ones to do their dirty work,” he said. “Things like shooting, dealing drugs, beating people and robbery.”

Six murders have taken place in the city this year.

The gangs mark their respective turfs with graffiti.

“Drive around, it’s everywhere,” she said.

The woman said the Grape Street Gang takes its name from the Grape Street Watts Crips, a street gang from the Watts section of Los Angeles.

The woman said her children have no place to play because the park is now closed to the public because of violence and drug deals.

Piece of Pie Park is a pie-shaped sliver of land in the LaBelle neighborhood.

It has a tattered jungle gym, a swing set with one of its four swings and chain sets missing and two heavy picnic tables.

The woman has lived in Steubenville all of her life, and the gang activity has ruined it.

“A lot of great people have come from Steubenville, and now it is a cesspool,” she said.

She said the problem could be alleviated if law enforcement would get tough on crime.

“All they do is give offenders a slap on the wrist,” she said. “I know of a man who got nine months for a gun charge and other people who get one year for minor drug offenses.”

Jefferson County Sheriff Fred Abdalla said the neighborhood around Piece of Pie Park should be patrolled more heavily by police.

He said more police presence, security cameras and more lighting are the tools needed to fight the problem.

“We need cameras in the high crime areas rather than down on (state Route) 7 trying to catch speeders,” he said.

He does not see a need for more committee meetings or discussions.

“The time for talk is over,” he said. “It’s time for action.”

Abdalla also said members of the Hilltop community need to step forward and reclaim their neighborhood.

“We had black kids killing black kids last year and nobody came forward to help us out,” he said. “They could remain anonymous, block their phone numbers or whatever-but they need to come forward.”