Guards To Return To Parks Security Puts Lid On Drinking, Other Problems

Using security guards at a few Spokane County parks was so successful last year, it will be repeated this summer.

Liberty Lake Park was one of the parks assigned a part-time security guard last year. That was mostly due to the length of time it took to hire a permanent park caretaker, said Wyn Birkenthal, parks director.

“We may be able to cut back at Liberty Lake this year,” Birkenthal said.

College-age lifeguards at the Valley’s regional park had fewer catcalls to deal with because people knew a security guard was making his rounds. Drinking at the park stayed under control, too.

Fish Lake, a six-acre park to the west of Spokane, had the most need for security, Birkenthal said.

“It really turned around and became a place where families could go again.”

The public response to the presence of security guards was overwhelmingly positive, he said.

Last year, the county spent $16,000 on security. That money ordinarily would have paid the caretaker’s salary. Birkenthal said he would try to carve out the same amount of money this year from different budget areas.

, DataTimes