Officials at the Santa Cruz district of California State Parks are encouraging people to safely celebrate Labor Day weekend while at the 15 state beaches and parks in the county, where attractions like the Garden of Eden in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park often see hundreds of visitors.
The Garden of Eden is fed by the San Lorenzo River. The famous watering hole has exploded in popularity over the past five to 10 years — which has also increased the number of public safety incidents there, according to Gabe McKenna, State Parks public safety superintendent for the Santa Cruz district.
“Visitation to the garden has spiked in the last five years,” he said. “It’s grown exponentially with social media and was also spurred on by the pandemic … and that has really impacted the Garden of Eden.”
McKenna told Lookout on Friday that the 30 rangers of the Santa Cruz district will be all-hands-on-deck for the holiday weekend and will be at popular sites like the Garden of Eden to ensure people are safe and preserving the natural landscape.
In response to the increase in incidents, McKenna said State Parks increased patrols at the garden this summer. Rangers have written citations for possession of alcohol, possession of glass bottles and for leaving trash. Last month, McKenna said there were two major medical incidents, with one person airlifted out of the Garden of Eden for medical treatment. Both of those injured survived.
“We’re in the business of promoting recreational opportunities and access,” he said. “But at the garden, it has reached the point where some of some of the visitation and some of the trends that we’re seeing are damaging to the landscape and unsafe for the public.”
McKenna said State Parks rangers will be regularly visiting the garden and all parks locations this weekend: “We’re hoping for a safe end of the summer where people get to enjoy our parks and beaches.”
Have news that should be in Lookout Briefs? Send your news releases, including contact information, to news@lookoutlocal.com.
MORE LOCAL COVERAGE
Comments are closed.