Hartford, Conn. ? Residents of a Hartford neighborhood hope Beethoven and Mozart will help drive drug dealers and prostitutes out of a park.

Activists propose playing recordings of classical music in Barnard Park in hopes of annoying petty criminals so much that they’ll leave. They also hope the music will make the park more pleasant for other people.

Resident Carol Coburn said she came up with the idea after reading about similar efforts in West Palm Beach, Fla., where she said crime decreased as much as 40 percent in parks where classical music was played.

The plan still needs city approval and funding.