SPOKANE, Wash. — Spokane Parks and Recreation officials say the city’s new anti-camping ordinance clarifies how rangers should address illegal camps. But with a short-staffed team, they’re counting on November’s multi-million-dollar parks levy to boost safety by funding more rangers.
The $440 million ‘Together Spokane’ plan includes two separate ballot measures, including a $240 million levy for Spokane Parks.
The ordinance is a strict anti-camping ban that prohibits camping on or obstructing all public property and gives Spokane Police more discretion in offering services or issuing citations to those breaking the law.
Parks and Rec said the new ‘Safe and Accessible Spaces’ ordinance will give park rangers better guidance on how to deal with illegal camping in Spokane Parks.
If the levy passes, the number of park rangers could increase from four, up to 16.
“This would be a game-changer for us to be able to branch out into all of the parks and communicate with the community and see what their needs are in these areas,” said Jake Vandenberg, lead of the Spokane Parks Ranger Team.
Currently, Spokane Parks rangers work with SPD to make arrests on certain misdemeanors within parks. The ordinance is meant to clear up any confusion about what laws can be enforced and where.
“This gives us some more clarity with our park rangers and our special commission and working with SPD on how to give more officer discretion,” said Spokane Parks and Recreation Director Garrett Jones.
The levy would also allow the department to hire more maintenance staff, who could alert rangers to any illegal activity in the parks.
“[Rangers] can respond to that quicker, solve the problem and go from there,” Vandenberg said.
The department said the additional rangers hired would be split up into teams of four across Spokane, giving each one its own precinct.
“Every day is different. It’s really about responding to what the need is and trying to keep up with that,” Vandenberg said.
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