Arcadia : Park May Get More Workers

The City Council decided to consider hiring more employees to supervise Wilderness Park but rejected a recommendation to charge an entrance fee.

In the past year, Michael Ferguson, president of the Highland Oaks Homeowners Assn., has twice recommended to the council that the city hire more employees to patrol the park on weekends and charge non-residents a fee to help pay for the increased supervision.

On Tuesday, several residents complained of increased graffiti, loitering, drug dealing and alcohol use at the park.

The council directed the recreation department staff to report on the cost for more employees, uniforms, signs, radios and construction of an informational booth containing park rules, such as a ban on alcohol.