Vandalism, misuse at county parks taking toll

County temporarily closes Flaming Geyser Natural Area due to growing problems

"Out of control" partying this summer at Flaming Geyser Natural Area is so severely trashing the park and creating safety and environmental hazards that King County Parks, with the full support of the Sheriff’s Office, is temporarily closing the park for this weekend. Parks is also asking for the public’s help in stopping vandalism of public property.

The natural area, located south of Black Diamond on the Green River, isn’t intended for active recreational use and has become a major maintenance issue for Parks crews, who are spending dozens of hours cleaning up hundreds of pounds of garbage left behind by thoughtless people. Sheriff’s deputies have also expended significant resources trying to control large and unruly crowds at the location.

"It’s a sad reality that every summer we see a dramatic increase in the amount of vandalism and abuse to our parks, and it’s become particularly nasty at Flaming Geyser this year. The situation there is out of control and getting worse," said Kevin Brown, King County Parks Director. "We never want to close a public park, but this abuse is leaving us no choice."
"It’s unfortunate that the situation has progressed to the point where the park has to be closed, even temporarily. But the illegal activity, primarily excessive consumption of alcohol and vandalism, must be curtailed," said Sheriff Sue Rahr. "Our goal is to keep the public safe in the park and on the roadways coming and going from the area."

The Sheriff's Office will have deputies stationed at the park at least this weekend while the maintenance crews work on clean-up. Additional resources from the Sheriff’s Office will be available as needed.

King County Parks is working on a more permanent solution with the Sheriff’s Office and Washington State Parks to discourage misuse of the natural area, which is adjacent to Flaming Geyser State Park.

Case in point: King County Parks crews have hauled out almost 60 large garbage bags full of trash that was collected following a big drinking party at the Flaming Geyser Natural Area on the Green River…and the clean up isn’t done yet.
"We estimate that in one area alone, there are more than 250 empty beer bottles and cans that have been tossed into deeper water that we can’t get to yet," said Scott Snyder, a resource coordinator with King County Parks. "Retrieving garbage from the river is difficult, expensive and can be dangerous for parks staff."

Last year, King County taxpayers footed a clean-up and repair bill of more than $30,000 – an increase of $10,000 from 2004. Vandals struck 68 different sites last year, a 50 percent increase from 2004. County park crews spent 431 labor hours to repair damages in 2005.

"We have built a world-class system of parks and trails for everyone to enjoy," Brown said. "Unfortunately, these senseless acts of vandalism force us to spend our limited resources on cleaning up our parks, rather than improving them."

To help combat vandalism and illegal dumping, citizens can call 206-296-4452 to get in touch with staff from the Park Watch Patrol. An extension of the successful Neighborhood Watch program, the Park Watch Patrol needs timely and relevant information to catch vandals, including times, dates and locations where vandalism and illegal dumping has occurred. Vehicle license plate numbers of those suspected of illegal activities are also valuable in the fight against vandalism.

King County Parks has also initiated a Parks and Trails Ambassadors Program. Volunteers in this program are asked to donate two hours of service per week at a designated park or trail to provide visitors with information and ensure facilities are in good shape.

More information about King County Parks volunteer opportunities is available at http://www.metrokc.gov/parks/stewardship/ on the Internet.

King County Parks - Your Big Backyard - offers more than 25,000 acres of parks and natural lands, including such regional treasures as Marymoor Park and Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park, 175 miles of regional trails, plus pools and a world-class aquatic center. By cultivating strong relationships with non-profit, corporate and community partners, King County Parks enhances park amenities while reducing costs. More information is available http://www.metrokc.gov/parks/.