Council directs signage and stronger enforcement after repeated overnight parking at Canyon and Hellhole trailheads

Washington City council members on Wednesday directed staff to install targeted signage and consider towing as the final enforcement tool to address repeated overnight and overflow parking at several city parks.

Parks staff reported recurring parking pressure at Canyon Park and the Hellhole trailhead, which council members said were being used for overnight or overflow parking by residents of nearby apartment complexes. Staff also reported issues at Treasure Valley Park where neighbors have complained about vehicles and trailers being stored in lots intended for park users.

What the council asked staff to do: Jeremy (parks staff) told the council the police have issued tickets but offenders return or new vehicles appear. Council members advised moving to stronger measures: post signs that prohibit overnight parking (Council suggested a 10 p.m. cutoff in problem lots) and add language that towing will be enforced. Council members asked staff to coordinate with police on how towing would be implemented so it is not done predatory or excessively.

Balancing access and early-morning users: Council members also asked staff to preserve early-morning access for legitimate trail users. The council noted parks open early (6 a.m. was cited in discussion) and several residents use the parks for early exercise; council members asked that any nighttime restrictions be written so morning users are not inadvertently prohibited from parking.

Public communication and enforcement approach: Council members urged a public-information campaign to explain reasons for the change — security, vandalism concerns and public-safety rationale — and asked staff to avoid putting sign and enforcement in place without readiness to follow through. "We don't want to make a provision or a law ordinance that we're not willing to enforce," a council member said.

Next steps: Staff was instructed to work with police and return with specific sign locations and an enforcement plan that uses tickets first and towing as a last step but readily available when repeat or overnight violations persist.

Speakers quoted: "I think we have to get a handle on it... I think that one's been limited to one or two people who are trying to use it as overflow from their home," Councilman Ivy (paraphrased). "I don't want to do predatory towing... We just want to make it a final solution," Jeremy, parks staff.

Ending: Council signaled consensus to pilot signage and towing in the most-affected lots, with staff to coordinate language, placement and enforcement procedures with police before implementation.