Woodland Park installed gates on roads leading into the park over the summer and early autumn. The gates sat idle for some time after installation, but I noticed the gates recently being locked overnight starting in late September. 
However, the gates seem to be closed with no regard for the presence of cars in the parking lots. Most mornings, I walk by the lots on the south side of the park just east of Aurora and half the time cars are in the lot including large motor homes. By being locked in, it seems to be providing extra security to the car campers rather than precluding their entrance.
I also find it interesting that the gates do not follow the posted hours of the park. The park is posted as being closed from 11:30pm – 4:00am. I sent an email to the city parks department and they stated that the gates will open between 6:00am and 7:00am each morning. It strikes me as odd that we have posted hours of operation for a park in general, as I hope no one is actively patrolling for trespassers overnight. I had assumed the hours were posted to provide a straight forward means of dispersing people overnight if police suspect nefarious activities. It would seem logical that the gates would therefore following the posted hours. Why post hours for a park that are not followed by the gates restricting access?
I think gates are a reasonable, low cost step to help minimize camping in Woodland Park, and I support the gates. I am just a little confused on why it became so complicated in implementation. Unless I misunderstand, and it is designed to lock people in. Then I do not support it, and wonder why some nights they forget to lock people in. Whatever the purpose of the gates, it seems the current process is less than optimal.
This feels like a metaphor for some other projects in the city, and I would like to think the parks department is secretly viewing this as an elaborate self-reflective art installation.
lets not confuse the issue – the “cars” locked in are people camping there illegally. the area is now considered vagrant property and the city will let them do as they please as usual.
Unfortunately the city doesn’t have a clue as to how to deal with illegal camping throughout the city. The city just knows how to ask for more tax levies.
WOW My gues sis that they did not hire more people to manage the gate situation and simply added this responsibility yto staff who already have several duties. My guess is also that vehicles that are locked in are vehicles locked in but the people could presumable climb a fence or cut a hole in a fence so it is not like a jail situation. It bothers me that the illegally parked campers ar e not rousted each night but rather left to roam the land and possible steal and also feel more secure in their right to stay as residents of the park. The future of our parks and neighborhoods is in the hands of people who seem to not consider the effects on day by day tax paying people who want safety in their lives.( Comment re comments..)
It’s the police who would have to be called to get the cars / campers to move out of the parks each night. Now if the parks department charged fees for all parking spots like they do at the zoo that might deter most of them.
Why would anyone expect the city to actually use the gates for their intended purpose? This is just more window dressing they installed to make it look like they care and are doing something about it, and that all will be forgiven when voters go the polls.
Just a few weeks ago a tweaker (sorry, I mean one of our “unhoused neighbors”) camping in one of those derelict RV’s at Lower Woodland assaulted a five year old. It was witnessed by multiple parents and calls were made to 911. No officers came to the scene. For all we know, the guy is probably still camping there.
This is what happens when you allow vagrant enablers and homeless activists to dictate city policy and allow criminals to take over our parks in the name of “compassion.”
Don’t use this to promote your anti-car anti-parking agenda. This is about preventing people from using the park, not preventing cars.
The gates are a new patronage position at City Hall. The person assigned to open and close them is on a taxpayer-funded salary of $137,000. Also, I would like to congratulate the author of this article for using the word “gates” a total of 12 times. This article is about gates, folks, and you better not forget it!
Nice, how can I apply for a job like that?
If you have to ask, you’ll never know 🙂
Hi commenters! I hear a lot of people making up reasons that the gates were installed, and then bashing the council for your made-up transgression. I don’t find this very constructive. Feel free to reach out to the council and find out the real reason. 🙂
No one’s making up the reason, and considering how dishonest they’ve been with us, I wouldn’t take the council’s word on anything anymore.
This article should put to rest any doubts:
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/homeless/seattle-parks-volunteers-go-to-repair-habitat-and-find-tent-camps/
“Dean Drugge” LOL You can’t make this up.