Ever heard the following phrase:

“Who’s watching the store?”

Well here’s one along the same lines 

“Who’s watching the park?”

Neighbors and volunteers mostly. 

We feel bad for the city’s third party contractors who are being put in the position to empty the ocean with a teaspoon so to speak…they have other responsibilities that they should have a better chance of being successful at and likely are starting to realize they have been set up to fail in this location in the park…but we digress.

Ever see the “no trespassing” signs and “no parking” signs in and around Del Paso Park and Park Road??

There’s a reason why they are posted. But the signs and the rules they represent are no good if they’re not enforced. 

Why did the city post the no parking signs—and also create a “no trespassing” ordinance for the natural habitat in the park? And, what happens when the city doesn’t enforce it’s own park ordinances? 

Well. Let’s take a look at WHY the ordinance was created in the first place.

“Necessity is the mother of invention”, after all. 

First off, Del Paso Park East is miles away from the city’s park rangers and city police- who are tasked with enforcing the city’s park ordinances- so the intended positive effects of those ordinances being enforced could be seen. That makes it hard to do a job well if you’re spread too thin and miles away. 

Full report HERE

From 2016 City Parks and Recreation Commission  report:

“Over the past few years there has been an increase in problems caused by the persons entering the natural habitat areas of Del Paso Regional Park. Illegal camping, drug and alcohol use, lewd conduct, and other prohibited activities are occurring because the thick underbrush and tree canopy provides hiding places. These activities harm the native plantings, impact the wildlife in the area, contaminate the creek, increase the danger of wildfires, and create public safety issues. Such activities are causing a large accumulation of trash and debris requiring frequent cleanups, thereby, increasing maintenance costs.

While the current Park Use Regulations set out in the City Code prohibit these activities, park rangers cannot issue a citation unless they witness the illegal act. The trees and bushes in the habitat areas prevent visual observation during park patrols. Because the plantings in the habitat area cannot be removed or extensively trimmed, the only remedy is to prevent the public from entering the habitat areas unless they are on the bridle trail and using the trail for horseback riding, walking or biking.

The proposed ordinance will help address a public safety problem that exists at Del Paso Regional Park and will help protect the habitat and wildlife in these native preserve areas. After the ordinance is enacted, signs will be posted in the habitat areas informing the public that it is illegal to be in the area unless they are using the trail and remain on the trail. The proposed ordinance will provide park rangers with the ability to cite persons who violate the "no trespassing" signs.”

Logically the outcome is that when no help is near no one is “watching the store” and the park ordinances are not enforced- so it becomes a place with a very different type of activity and a playground for lawlessness.

We want this park’s natural habitat along the riparian corridor of the Arcade Creek and the rest of the park amenities to be protected and maintained by someone other than the City of Sacramento. Time for a new storekeeper who can pay attention to our situation.