Due to a rash of recent vandalism in the park, the Special Operations Unit of the Federal Way Police Department has formed a special mountain bike unit of police officers who will patrol the park and monitor activites along the boardwalk. Someone has been using park trees for target practice. This is harmful to the trees, but more importantly, has the potential to be harmful to innocent visitors.
Park informational signs have gone missing, sometimes up to and including the stanchions and footings the signs were attached to. These signs are not only expensive to replace; but, when removed, deprive our visitors of valuable educational information pertaining to the various environments that exist within the park, as well as the amazing variety of wildlife that makes it's home here.
The zip-lock baggie containing my park blog cards was stolen last week and the cards were scattered willy-nilly along the boardwalk. I picked the cards up and replaced the baggie and cards on the information kiosk. Sure enough, the baggie had gone missing again by the time we visited today. Neither EarthCorps, nor the Friends of the Hylebos, pay for these cards. I pay for them out of my own pocket and provide them as a service to our visitors, so that they can take the park blog information home with them without having to search for a pencil and piece of paper to write on.
Instead of scattering the cards along the boardwalk, like the last time, the vandals crammed the cards all of the way down to the bottom of one of the long, thin, brochure containers. There was no way that I could fit my hand down far enough to retrieve the cards, and I have very small hands. It's impossible to unscrew the containers without using a special tool, which I do not have, so I was forced to find a thin, sturdy stick with which to fish the cards out. Notice how the vandals are deliberately scratching up the plastic on the containers, not to mention the fact that have used the containers for ashtrays, as well as removing the sign-in sheets and brochures and setting them on fire.
Here's a photo of some of the police officers who will now be patrolling the park. I took them on a tour of the park today so that they could see what kind of vandalism was going on and where the trouble spots were. They will use the information they obtained today to form a strategy designed to nip this kind of vandalism in the bud, and hopefully identify and detain the perpetrators. I've also been given an emergency number that I can use to contact the unit and report any suspicious behavior that I witness. From now on, we'll be watching you! If you're not already a member, Lt Hatfield suggests that you go to www.Safecityfw.com and follow the instructions to join. Once a member, you can post real-time information, including photographs, about any criminal or suspicious activity at the park as soon as you find it. You don't have to be a member of the police force or park staff in order to report the activity that you see. The information that you provide will help make the park a nicer place for everyone to visit.
While in the park, I met a woman who was escorting a group of children through the park playing Hide 'n Seek. The animals do the hiding and the kids try to find them. The children had a checklist of things to look for. This beautiful banana slug was hiding inside of a crevice in a log. I know the kids went back into the area where the log was located. Did they spot the slug?
Every time they found something on their list, I could hear their excited voices loudly announcing the find, such as this duck on Marlake. Scratch one duck off of the checklist, and......ZOOM!, off to find something else.
I heard them announce the fact that they hadn't found any frogs. I wonder if they saw the dragonflies flitting about the lake, such as this bright red cardinal meadowhawk.
And this vivid turquoise and black Pacific forktail?
I know the kids were on the old dock. While there, did they notice this busy little spider who seemed to be building an entire hotel chain for hungry arachnids?
I hope so! It would be a shame to let a little vandalism done by a few thugs keep people out of the park. I can honestly say that I've worked in the park for twelve years, visiting the park anywhere from one to three or four times a week, and I've only felt uncomfortable a couple of times. So, strap on your walking shoes and get out there and have some fun!
P.S. A geocacher recently reported a find to me and I want to quote his report: "Had a little time to kill while waiting for our grandson to swim at the Aquatic Center, so decided to explore this beautiful place. Hats off to those who volunteer funds and labor to preserve such places for all to enjoy!" Everybody take a bow and give yourselves a well-deserved pat on the back. People do notice all of the hard work you do.
Teri I. Lenfest
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