I am concerned about escalating transient and inebriate traffic in the Campbell Creek Park area. My home on East 48th Avenue backs to the Campbell Creek trail system. When we purchased our home, we felt that the trail system was a positive feature, allowing us easy access to biking, walking and skiing.
However, over the past two years, we have grown very weary of the trail due to the high volume of transient and inebriate traffic. Homeless camps are everywhere. Drunks living on the trail behind our house prevent my wife and 3-year-old daughter from fully utilizing the trail.
Groups of transients "own" the bridge at Folker Street, the fish viewing platform and picnic area, which would otherwise be a great place for families to use. I myself have been harassed by this group when using the bridge.
We've become increasingly frustrated with the city's seeming unwillingness to address the situation. Recently, we called APD to report that over a dozen inebriates had gathered at the park, near 46th Avenue and Folker Street. They were drinking openly, brawling with each other, and yelling obscenities at the tops of their lungs.
The APD dispatcher told us that the police were busy and could not respond, and asked that we call back if the situation worsened or got out of control. I later chose to confront the group when no one else did and matters weren't getting any better.
After an initial standoff, the group grudgingly left, yelling that this was public property and that they could "do whatever they wanted."
Of course, it is illegal to consume alcohol on city park land without a permit. Camping, littering, open burning, public defecation and poaching salmon from Campbell Creek are also illegal activities. These are common sights for us and our neighbors on the trail system.
On more than one occasion, I've been told that the APD is staffed at a reactive level, not a pro-active one; that they are doing their best. One commonly cited reason for the low number of officers is a lack of funding. However, this is an unacceptable response.
Consider the recent wildfire (which came within a quarter mile of my home). It started at a homeless camp. The response to this fire was impressive, and included dozens of firefighters, engines, helicopters, fire retardant drops, APD and Alaska State Troopers. I would estimate that several hundred thousand dollars was spent that day. Wouldn't this money be better spent on additional police officers to patrol the trail system?
In fact, we have never, not even once, seen a police officer on the Campbell Creek trail. The drunks are confident that they won't be confronted. They loiter on the trails, heckling tourists, local residents and other innocent trail users. At night, they own the place.
I understand that the municipality has programs for finding housing for the homeless, programs for rehabilitation and job skills, etc. These programs do not address the immediate needs of public safety. Forests and trails close to a shelter that offers free meals (in this case, the Anchorage Rescue Mission) will attract deviants to hang out and continue illegal activities.
The municipality built the park and trail systems but is seemingly unable, or unwilling, to properly police them. What dreadful tragedy will happen next?
I am hopeful that the municipality will open a genuine dialogue with trailside residents in order to formulate a solution, and then back it with funding and actions. It's time that something was done.
Karl Hulse lives in Anchorage near the Campbell Creek greenbelt.
By KARL HULSE