‘Together Spokane’ plan to enhance park safety through hiring additional park rangers

SPOKANE, Wash. — Spokane voters will soon decide on the first tax increase for Parks in over a decade. The $240 million ballot measure is part of the Together Spokane proposal.

4 News Now took to social media asking residents what questions they have about the plan. Within less than 24 hours, hundreds of responses came in. One person asked: “What amount will be allotted to making these spaces safe again for children?”

The Parks Department agrees that it wants safer parks but says it currently doesn’t have the budget to make real changes.

“We’re seeing that the demand of really trying to stretch our dollars. At the same time, the community is asking for a higher level of service,” said Garrett Jones, Spokane Parks Director.

Jones said that is why the department is asking for this levy. Thirty-five percent of the funding it generates would go toward safety and daily maintenance.

A top priority on a long list of proposed projects would be hiring more rangers.

“Our park rangers in many ways keep things from escalating. And that’s the point of their presence,” said Jennifer Ogden, Spokane Parks and Recreation Board President.

The Parks Department says if only the levy passes and the school bond fails, they would only be able to hire four more rangers. However, if both measures pass, that number jumps to 12, as the two entities would be able to collaborate on hiring together.

“They would be patrolling parks in a proactive way, and then also patrolling grounds of school properties when school is out of session and on the weekends,” Jones said.

Right now, the four park rangers that the Spokane Parks Department has operate from Riverfront Park. The additional 12 rangers would get spread out throughout the city to make different precincts.

“They would be dedicated park rangers for each section of town, whether that’s northeast, northwest, downtown, and then the south,” Jones said.

These additional rangers would be special commission, meaning they are allowed to take select law enforcement action if needed.

“They’re able to create relationships for the users that are using the park, create relationships with the neighbors, and then also be able to communicate with, some of the activity to address the activity before it even becomes an issue,” Jones said.