Stepping Up Safety Efforts in American River Parkway

By Zeke Holst, Sacramento County Department of Regional Parks

With the popularity of Sacramento County’s regional parks remaining high, especially the American River Parkway, the county is leveraging resources, collaborating with the private/public sector, and changing parks operations to insure public safety and protection of sensitive habitat.

“The Parkway is bordered by cities, neighborhoods, businesses and state land, all of whom have a vested interest in keeping the Parkway safe and clean,” said Supervisor Phil Serna of District 1. “To help address the illegal camping situation on the Parkway, we are collaborating with private interests dedicated to funding homeless services and partnering with the broader law enforcement community to maximize public safety.”

To address security, Regional Parks is partnering with the Sacramento Police Department to increase patrol presence in the lower Parkway, where most illegal camping occurs. The joint patrol operates seven days a week and will conduct warrant sweeps throughout the year in collaboration with County Probation and other law enforcement agencies.

Ranger Assistants are helping to increase presence during periods of peak bicycle and recreational traffic. Rangers and police follow strict protocol with illegal campers: campers are “noticed” to leave within 48 hours in writing and in person.

If campers do not vacate within the allotted time, they are issued a citation and their possessions are confiscated and safely stored. If outstanding warrants or probation/parole violations exist, campers are arrested and booked into the County Jail.

In addition to noticing campers, rangers may be accompanied at times by county social workers and volunteers from Sacramento Steps Forward who provide information about temporary shelter options, meals, and other social service programs. Information about pet kenneling and where their personal belongings will be stored is also provided.

To protect the environment from camping garbage and other waste, Parks has increased cleanup of the campsite areas from one to two days a week. Cleanup is done by Sacramento County Sheriff Work Release crews within and also adjacent to the Parkway.

The County Department of Regional Parks is partnering with the American River Parkway Foundation to increase cleanup in targeted areas. In addition to five major cleanups in 2011, one hundred Foundation volunteers, including Rob Leonard, the County's Interim Parks Director and Supervisor Serna, removed over three tons of debris from the Northgate Area in November.

Illegal camping can be reported to Park Rangers at 916-875-7275. To support Sacramento Steps Forward and the Winter Sanctuary Program, donations can be made on line at sacramentostepforward.org