Here’s an alert for Lincoln Park visitors. The report and photo are from Arlene:
A fallen limb on the path from the north parking lot towards the water is blocked off this afternoon. You can still take other side paths but along the way I noticed some other fallen limbs/trees, although not blocking paths.
Always a good thing to submit these to the parks department via the “find it fix it” app. I’ve reported countless downed trees and they take care of them within 48 hours, usually less.
Improper use of Danger Tape (Red). Caution tape (Yellow) should be used in this situation. There is no imminent danger in this situation. This kind of misuse contributes to complacency. Thumbs down to whomever is unaware of proper use of these warnings and failed.
I don’t know who put up the tape nor whether they had access to multiple colors. But you can report to Parks maintenance at 206-684-7250.
Unless there is a threat of more trees falling or a land slide possibility, why is the red tape up? Most people who venture into actual forest trails come across this kind of stuff regularly. Do they think people can’t access the situation for them selves?
Flip side – why didn’t the Parks Department provide appropriate warnings after I tried to climb over the branch and it broke causing me to break my ankle. Liability 101 … it’s the equivalent of the yellow “wet floor” signs as the floor is being mopped, bucket sitting there.
This report was from a park visitor, so we don’t know if parks has reason to believe there is danger of more unstable limbs falling there. Maybe they do, in which case the red tape is merited. Or maybe they don’t. We might wait to know more before judging. Seems fair to say as well that not all LP visitors are people who go out on actual forest trails or would be thoughtful or competent about assessing danger (e.g., young children). I agree that if it’s just a fallen limb, climbing over or scrambling under it doesn’t seem that big a deal and those who don’t want to do that can find another route. But again, we don’t know that that’s all it is. Besides, we’re not all the same. You might be cool with assessing risk, making your own choices, and accepting consequences. Others sue, and Parks has to be mindful of those with litigious tendencies. If some red tape gives Parks enough CYA to avoid further controversy while they get a crew out, I can see why they might use it. The public has become so reactionary in spaces like this one — shouting and blaming when they don’t understand or get exactly what they want. Over-reacting begets over-reactions. This isn’t that big a deal, so maybe we thank the park visitor for using WSB to let other folks know they can’t use the trail today and move on. Thanks to WSB and Arlene!
It looked to me like someone from the Parks Dept. had put the tape up but I don’t know for sure.
At least they put up some kind of warning, Red tape or crime seen tape, does it really matter?
In todays society, If they didn’t put up the tape.., you would have someone walk into the tree and sue the City for $5 million.
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