The gate at Waterfront Park in Medical Lake has been closed to vehicle traffic. The city closed the parking lot and boat launch to non-emergency vehicles July 24 in an effort to prevent large groups from gathering in the park.
MEDICAL LAKE-Throughout the first half of July, crowds gathered at Medical Lake waterfront, often without social distancing or wearing a mask. As a result, mayor Shirley Maike and city administrator Doug Ross were forced to close the park and boat launch entrances to vehicles.
The decision, which took effect the morning of Friday, July 24, was brought to city council by Ross and Maike at its July 21 meeting. The walking trail is not be closed to the public. Emergency vehicles will still have access to the park.
"We know we can't completely close the park; there's just too many ways to get into it," Maike told council. "We want to keep the trail open. If we close it to vehicle traffic, that will reduce the number of people coming to the park and hopefully we can keep the gathering at a small amount."
Maike said she and Ross participate in Spokane County COVID-19 meetings Tuesday mornings and that county regional health district health officer Dr. Bob Lutz has been "adamant" about the importance of limiting gatherings to five people or less.
Maike said another reason for closing the boat launch to vehicles is the currently high fire danger, commenting that "it's just too dry over there."
"Every year we seem to have a fire down at that boat launch," Ross added. "There's some concerns about being able to get cars and people out of there, the way they pack themselves into that parking lot ... I spoke with Fire District 3; they were in support."
He continued by noting that park visitors continuing to congregate has caused increased in trash being left around the park after park workers leave for the day, causing a dirtier park after hours. He added that people should not be playing baseball on the fields at this time.
Another reason for closing the park to vehicle traffic is to try and limit the number of non-city residents visiting, Ross said.
"What people have been relaying to me is that it's not necessarily that they want the park closed; they want it closed to people that don't live in the city," Ross said.
Ross noted that the decision could be reversed if it doesn't seem to be achieving its desired effect; in essence, if people continue to congregate at the park and not follow physical distancing guidelines in accordance with the state's re-opening plan. Therefore, the closure is considered tentative.
"If it turns into a fiasco and it's a burden on surrounding properties ... we can always open that gate back up," Ross said. "The park is still going to be busy ... (but) I think it's something that's necessary to at least try."
Council also approved Resolution No. 525: Establishment of COVID-19 Emergency Payment Plan Program for Past Due Utility Accounts on July 21.
"Under Governor Inslee's July 2nd Proclamation 20-23.6, utility providers are required to have a payment plan program in place for those customers who were unable to pay their utility bills due to the Governor's original emergency proclamation," Ross said.
Inslee's original proclamation banned utility companies from disconnecting utility services to those unable to pay bills as a result of the pandemic.
Drew Lawson can be reached at [email protected].
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