Although under gloomy winter skies we sometimes feel it will never clear up again, spring arrives and the grey slowly begins to give way to blue. Thoughts turn to enjoying our beautiful county and all it has to offer.

I encourage citizens to make use of the parks, facilities and services available through Kitsap County Facilities, Parks and Recreation. Our parks and recreation facilities provide Kitsap residents with family-friendly access to the great outdoors and a multitude of fantastic programs.

While Kitsap County works to maintain these areas, you can also help us ensure that our parks are safe and clean by keeping an eye out for vandalism. Vandalism doesn’t just hurt parks, but the community as a whole. The programs offered to Kitsap citizens depend on facilities and equipment that are vulnerable to vandalism. The cost of clean up, replacement and repair is high.

In past couple of years, damage to North Kitsap parks and facilities cost over $60,000. At the new Norwegian Point Park in Hansville, vandals recently broke into the boathouse and cabins, destroying the locks and stealing tools. Park staff and Hansville residents pitched in to replace and repair locks and clean up the mess.

Vandalism was also found at Island Lake Community Center where windows were broken, the men’s restrooms were damaged, fires were set and skylights and restroom fixtures were broken. Tables and benches destroyed at Island Lake Park were thrown into the lake. At Keyport Saltwater Park vandals ripped up the park entrance, sandblasted a sign out of the ground and tossed it into the ditch, costing county tax payers $450 to repair.

In South Kitsap, the recovery from the 2004 fire at the Long Lake Community Center cost $100,000, not including labor. At the fairgrounds, damaged items included a ballfield shed door, and playground graffiti clean up required 35 hours though priceless playground tiles signed by children simply can’t be duplicated.

Both small-scale and major vandalism incidents are prevalent and can cost a lot of time and money. It is difficult to assess just how much these acts cost because taking care of them can become a part of routine maintenance.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars must be spent to clean up these senseless acts of vandalism. However, you can help us reduce this problem by staying alert for vandalism when you visit a park.

Remember that parks are closed at nightfall, and after-dark activity is considered suspicious. If you see vandalism, no matter how minor it may seem, don’t hesitate to call the Department of Facilities, Parks and Recreation at (360) 337-5350 or dial 911. Abandoned vehicles on county right of way can be reported to the county’s Open Line at (360) 337-5777. We have a system in place that rapidly alerts the appropriate agencies for prompt disposition of these hazards.

Dozens of citizens took part in the discussions of the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan update, which determined what park facilities, open space lands and recreational programs Kitsap County will provide. We would like to thank Kitsap residents for taking these opportunities to help shape the future of our county. Your input is and has been a valuable part of the decision-making process for the plan update and other county projects, such as the 10-year review and update of the county’s Comprehensive Plan.

You don’t need to be on a committee, however, to enjoy the outdoors and take advantage of the many activities parks and facilities already available in Kitsap County. There are a number of community resources and upcoming events for spring 2007. Always working to develop new and enhance existing programs and events that attract greater program participation and community use of county recreational facilities, Kitsap County strives to protect and sustain our priceless natural resources for the benefit and enjoyment of current and future generations and promotes communities that are safe and healthy places in which to work, live, and play.

So, remember, get out there, have fun and keep in mind, just a little awareness on your part will help protect these resources that belong to all of us. Welcome to spring!