Trashed. Is it time for Security Cameras?

We spent Friday evening after our hike cleaning up a bus-load of garbage in the Devil’s Lake State Park’s Steinke Basin Parking lot. We’re just a few of the many park visitors who carry garbage bags when we visit the park so that we can clean up messes left by others. Maybe it’s time to look at some options here?

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I have to say, this was one of the largest single piles of trash we’d seen dumped at the park. It was actually 4 piles, all a mix of pizza boxes and other fast-food items. Obviously this was a large group. We also know that they were at the park on Friday because according to other park users, the trash wasn’t there the evening before. (And yes, we did report the incident and also looked for names or other identifying information on the boxes.)

Education Is Important

So how do we address this? I think we all agree that we have to start with a strong focus on education. In fact, when we ask our readers for ideas to combat this problem, “education” always comes out on top. Comments regularly suggest that local school children should all visit the parks and engage in clean up days as part of their education to develop a sense of ownership. This seems like a good idea, but I’m not sure our schools are living in that world right now. I think most are lucky if they can pay for busses…

Others suggest better signage such as big bold signs showing the high fines for littering. OK, I can see that, but I’m not sure big signs mean much to anyone who litters. Especially if enforcement isn’t visible. Maybe, and I’m just rambling here, if park officials communicated incidents, investigations and results in a very public way might discourage a few folks. What ideas do you have?

Garbage Cans?

Some folks say the answer is pretty simple; “People are generally good, but lazy.” If you put out garbage cans or dumpsters in these busy lots, the problem will stop. Will it?

Enforcement

When education doesn’t work, we need to look at other solutions. The fact is, that garbage is only one issue. Every year in outlying parking lots there are break-ins, vandalism and even those big yellow state park self-pay boxes aren’t safe! While the wardens have made things much better at Devil’s Lake, they simply can’t be everywhere at once. So what do we do?

What About Surveillance Cameras?

Probably the more controversial idea is placing surveillance cameras in these outlying lots. We can’t say they don’t work, there are examples across the country of vandals getting busted because they were on camera. Even when criminals wear masks, a well-placed camera can capture images of their cars entering and leaving the lots which can help with IDs. Yes, some folks worry that security cameras invade their privacy, and they do have some valid arguments. At the same time, you can’t buy a loaf of bread these days without passing a security camera. But yes, I hear those concerns too. This isn’t an argument for or against cameras, but an argument for something, “new”, other than the status quo.

Bottom Line

Acts of vandalism not only require the use of taxpayer dollars to clean up but puts wildlife at risk and makes park visitors feel less safe. Let’s be real here, it does nothing for visitor’s impressions of the park or our community either.

Thing is, we love to argue about what we’re against and tell folks what we can’t do these days. (keywords: volume, budget, staffing…) This leads to stagnation and nothing actually gets done. Inevitably folks will argue with every solution if you’re willing to give them an out. (We call those folks, “headwind”.)

I believe there is always something more that we can do. I know I’m not alone. This is why more outside user groups are becoming involved and why many park visitors like us are carrying garbage bags on our “nature” hikes. The bottom line is that although we’ll never stop all of the littering and vandalism in our parks, we’re certainly not going to let it become the new normal either.