A group of concerned Norwood residents marched through Williamsbridge Reservoir Oval in late September in a show of solidarity amid a recent spate of muggings in the park.

Friends of the Williamsbridge Oval, a local advocacy group, organized the event following news of the fifth mugging in the past month.

“I heard people saying things like ‘Don’t go into the park.’ To me that seems like the wrong reaction,” said Eileen Markey, one of the organizers. “We want to say: ‘We don’t accept that behavior here.’”

About 25 other residents joined Markey in sending that message. They marched around the track and along the park’s pathways, holding up hand-lettered signs and chanting, “What do we want? A safe park. When do we want it? Now.”

James McGeown, executive officer of the 52nd Precinct said police regularly patrol this area, but have stepped up their presence in response to the muggings, which all follow a similar pattern. The muggers approach the victim from behind, knock the person down, and grab his or her belongings before fleeing.

A day earlier, the NYPD announced the arrest of Jose Velazquez, 21. Police said Velazquez stole a cell phone from a victim on Reservoir Oval East on Sept. 19. He is being charged with grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property and unlawful possession of marijuana. Police believe Velazquez had an accomplice who is still at large.

The NYPD has noticeably beefed up its uniformed and plain-clothes detail in the park, something many of the Friends of Williamsbridge Oval have been calling for since last summer when a young man was shot to death in the park, apparently over an iPhone.

In spite of the recent crimes, the park remains in high use. More than 100 people were out on Tuesday evening, playing pick-up games of soccer, participating in an exercise group, jogging around the track or just enjoying the warm weather.

Marcher Miriam Rodriguez said she brings her granddaughter to the park every day and noted her daughter sometimes cuts through the park on her way home from the train station at night.

“It’s never been like this before,” said Rodriguez, who has lived in Norwood for 32 years. “I want a safe park, a safe neighborhood. I don’t want it to get ruined.”

Karen Herrera, 33, did not take part in the march, but was at the park with her 13-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son. Herrera, who exercises in the Williamsbridge Oval every morning, said one of her workout partners warned her about the muggings.

“He told me to be careful, not to have my headphones on. Once I get to there,” Herrera said, pointing to an area of the park that is under construction, “I really start to pay attention to my surroundings.”

Herrera plans to take more safety precautions, but will continue to use the park. For Lorita Watson, another organizer of the march, Herrera’s attitude ties in perfectly with the message the protesters hoped to send.

“We just want to let whoever is doing this know, this is our park,” she said. “We’re not leaving it.”