Lazaro Aleman
ECB Publishing, Inc.
Commissioner Stephen Walker, whose District 5 encompasses the Wacissa River and Wacissa River Park, is reporting vandalism at the recreational site.
Walker recently posted photos on his Facebook page showing large sized lettering painted across the paving in the handicapped parking area and also what appears to be a round burn mark on the wooden planking from a grill.
As recent as a day ago, Walker said on Monday, August 3, someone had painted graffiti on a building on the site.
Walker said he has been receiving numerous calls from local residents who want the county to put up a gate at the park entrance and begin charging $5 per person to discourage a certain element of people from using the park.
Among the issues concerning these residents, he said, was ongoing littering, vandalism, vehicles parking in the area reserved for trailers and dogs in the swimming area.
Walker noted that were the county to follow the residents’ requests and install a gate and impose a fee, it would essentially limit access to the park, which was never his or the board’s intention.
“I'm asking everyone to report this type of activity to law enforcement so that they can rid the area of disrespectful users,” Walker posted on his Facebook page. “If you see unlawful activity, take a picture of the person and the vehicle tag so that law enforcement can follow up. Also, if you see people throwing trash in the river - take their picture and report them as well.”
Walker said he wanted residents to understand that if the community didn’t begin policing the situation, it could well end up that a gate and entrance fee would follow.
As it is, he said, the county plans to install three cameras in the park in the coming weeks to monitor the situation. The three cameras, he said, will cost between $5,000 and $6,000, including the cost for the mounting poles, electrical connections and other incidentals.
Walker explained that the county is currently paying $25,000 for a law enforcement presence at the park. A deputy, he said, is onsite weekends to monitor the situation. The problem, he said, is that the deputy can’t be there weekdays, although deputies periodically swing by the river to check on things. Too, he said, the painting incidents are occurring at night.
He again urged residents to get involve and report any shenanigans that they see.
“The rights you save may be yours,” Walker said.