The details
River and Watershed Manager Amy Niles presented the recommendation at an Oct. 8 River Advisory meeting to restrict access to the area below the bridge, which has experienced increased public use despite not being designated as a park, she said.
The proposal aims to curb several problems that have escalated at the site, according to Niles.
- Large crowds frequently use the area during weekends, setting up canopies, grills and coolers, leading to large amounts of litter.
- The location lacks public restrooms, causing sanitation problems for nearby residents.
- Makeshift steps and steep terrain make it difficult for emergency services to respond to incidents.
Niles presented numbers from this year that showed increases in incidents and service demands:
- 185 55-gallon bags of litter and 611 bags of trash were collected. An additional $13,000 budget amendment was required to cover increased cleanup needs.
- 371 citations were issued this year, compared to 195 in 2023.
- 155 calls for service were reported, addressing parking violations, intoxication, assaults and medical emergencies.
The fence would tie into existing neighboring barriers to limit access below the bridge while allowing events on the bridge itself, Niles said.
She said the fence will simplify enforcement and help prevent unauthorized access.
Nearby property owners are in discussions with the city to address concerns about the potential impact of fencing.