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For William Scherer, living across the street from Roosevelt Park for 22 years has been turbulent.

He has found used condoms and syringes scattered in his front yard, homeless people starting small fires in the park to keep warm, prostitutes prowling the area and drug dealers bringing their business to his street corner.

"It got so bad I wouldn't take my granddaughter to the park," said Scherer, 72.

But he is willing to give Roosevelt another chance when its renovation finishes in July.

For the past three years, Roosevelt has been getting a face-lift. The park, near I-25 and Coal Avenue Southeast, will boast a new irrigation system, fresh turf, a playground, picnic tables and benches, and a jogging path, said Colleen Frenz of the city's Department of Municipal Development.

Frenz said the main reason for the renovation was to preserve the park's image.

"We have a facility that people are proud of and honor, and we hope they can do that for generations to come," she said.

Renovation began in August 2004. The park has been closed since September and was slated to reopen in the spring, said Mark Motsko, a spokesman for the department. The date was pushed to July because the turf needed more time to settle.

"We wanted the new park grass to take hold, because, if we opened it too early and the grass didn't have chance to germinate and kids and dogs came in and tore it up, then we'd have to go back to the park and replace it, again," Motsko said. "We just waited a little."

The park is 13 acres with more than 200 elm trees. During the first months of the project, 100 tons of dead tree limbs were cut.

The brittle tree branches posed a threat to visitors, Motsko said. A man died in June after being hit by a falling limb in Coronado Park, near I-40 and Third Street Northwest.

The $2.8 million project was funded by the state, and a general obligation bond passed in 2005.

Motsko said people are anticipating the renovations.

"When we did close it, we got a lot of calls," he said. "We had to let the people know what we were doing, and they all seemed very happy."

Residents say the park is important to them because it is a historic part of the city.

The park was created in 1933 as part of the New Deal, President Franklin Roosevelt's program to provide jobs during the Great Depression. Before the park was created, it was a "sandy, garbage-strewn arroyo," according to the city's Web site.

Paloma Najera, 17, has lived her whole life across the street from Roosevelt.

Najera said the park deteriorated over time. But, she said, she's looking forward to its reopening.

"It was getting ugly. The hill over there in the back," she said, pointing to a steep slope, "all the grass was dead. Now it looks how it did when I was little."

And that was the idea behind the renovation, Frenz said, to restore Roosevelt's image.

"What you got is the same park as you always had," she said. "That was the primary goal for this renovation, to have the historic character preserved."

Residents have expressed concern that the park's less-than-savory visitors will also appreciate the renovations.

"Either way, they're going to come back, unless the city keeps them out," Najera said.

"I'm sure once it opens, they'll be back," Scherer said.

Jay Hart, director of the Parks and Recreation Department, said the new look is intended to draw more families and keep out the criminal element.

"Folks that are coming to a location to do things that are inappropriate or illegal, they don't like being around a lot of people," he said. "The more positive uses we put into the area, that in itself will make it more safe, user-friendly and family-oriented."

As for Scherer, he plans to take his granddaughter to the park for the first time in years.

"It's cleaned up," he said, "and we'll see what happens."