Tom Koenninger: Parks bear brunt of litter, vandalism

Picking up in the park is not like a walk in the park.

Park managers can attest to litter strewn about Vancouver and Clark County parks and open spaces — fall, winter, spring and summer — which costs taxpayers many thousands of dollars. Vandalism is another common activity in green spaces.

It seems paradoxical in this era of taxpayer outrage over alleged waste in government to find some self-same taxpayers causing the waste.

In sharp contrast to conscientious people who support parks, there is a moronic element in society whose members don’t care about anything. They damage park equipment, dump litter, some of it disgusting, and leave graffiti.

As a self-proclaimed steward for Ben Franklin Park in west Vancouver, I can document some of the junk left behind.

My park retrievals have included scores of beer and soda cans and bottles; paper plates, sometimes with leftover food; paper cups, sacks containing dog excrement; used diapers; and golf balls.

The park, posted against golf activity, bears multiple ground scars and divots from stupid people at practice. I also spot condoms, which I don’t pick up. Last summer, I retrieved shards of glass from beer bottles broken in the children’s playground area of the park — nothing short of malicious.

Vandals don’t care about any attempts to create a beautiful and distinctive public feature.

Elsewhere in Vancouver, at the Land Bridge at the south side of the Vancouver National Historic Reserve, airheads stole 10 copper depictions of petroglyphs crafted by a Native American artisan.

Bob Friedenwald, senior adviser for the Confluence Project, sponsor of and fundraiser for the bridge, estimated the loss at $400. Its artistic value was far greater. Some metal lettering with definitions of Indian words such as “river” and “land” at the bridge have been damaged, and there is graffiti on the south wall.

A look at the bigger picture finds problems widespread over the city and county.

Metal theft worsens

Vancouver has 1,035 acres of parks and open space, said Mike Hale, city operations superintendent. The annual cost for removing litter is between $130,000 and $160,000, he said. In 2007, crews averaged 1,600 pounds of litter pickup every two weeks from Leverich and Arnold parks. This year, the total was reduced by half. “We rely a lot on (county )corrections crews for litter pickup,” Hale said.

There are four crews, and the daily cost per crew is $425.

Vandalism and theft — especially in the age of metal thefts — is another headache.
“Thieves steal bolts from playground equipment, and brass heads from park water fountains,” Hale said. Sprinkler heads are broken off.

Theft and park damage cost an average of $50,000 to $60,000 annually.

It doesn’t get any better in Clark County. “It’s been an above-average year for vandalism,” said Bill Bjerke, operations superintendent for county parks. The county has 90 parks, and maintains 10,000 acres, including green space. At two parks — Tenny Creek and Walnut Grove — trees were broken, tables damaged with a hatchet, graffiti applied, and efforts made to set fire to restrooms.

How to respond? Both Bjerke and Hale have talked with neighborhood associations.
Bjerke implemented a $200 reward program regarding park damage and said there was a meeting of neighborhood groups and the sheriff’s department. Between that and deputies’ arrest of suspects, vandalism was reduced. Hale is looking at a “stewards of the park” program next year. Although expensive, security cameras can be installed.

What can citizens do? Call 911 if you see culprits in the act of vandalism, said Kim Kapp, public information spokeswoman for the Vancouver Police Department. Crime reports can be made online to Vanpolice.org or by calling the west precinct at 360-487-7355 or east precinct at 360-487-7500. City graffiti calls can go to 360-696-8177.

Clark County vandalism reports, after the fact, can be made to 360-397-2446.
If you’ve had enough “smash and dash” taxpayer waste in public parks, make a call.

TOM KOENNINGER is editor emeritus of The Columbian. His column of personal opinion appears on Wednesdays. Reach him at koenninger@comcast.net.