"It's the school holidays and you want people, young people, to be using the parks for recreational activities. It's absolutely horrendous. Just tragic that a 14-year-old girl has been sexually assaulted."
A 69-year-old resident who lives adjacent to the park said a number of neighbours thought it wouldn't be long before a fight or assault took place in the council park.
"I've lived there just over two years and more people had been congregating in the park in the last two months.
"Since they've closed down the town during school holidays for kids to hang out, they have been coming down to the park.
"They are mainly girls and you hear them screaming and yelling some times, but most of the time it's nothing, and then you hear about something like this happening. It's horrible."
He said the homes around the park were mainly those of elderly people, who were "getting worried" at night.
"It's a real shame, it's such a beautiful park. But with all the trees it gets pretty dark here.
"The residents are getting concerned, we lock our doors and close our blinds at as soon as it gets dark.
"There needs to be better lighting, these kids shouldn't be out that late anyway, but an increased security presence and improved lighting around the park may stop future attacks like this."
He said he didn't hear or see the attack on Sunday night and was made aware of the attack when police knocked on his door at 10.30pm.
"Police continue to appeal to the public for any information that may assist them in piecing together what has occurred and any information that might lead to the identification of the offenders for this attack."
Inquiries continued yesterday while a scene examination also took place.
Police would like to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time.
Anyone with information who does not wish to be identified can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 and leave their information anonymously.
