Trash, drug paraphernalia, even used needles left in Kitsap County park

KITSAP COUNTY, Wash. -- One man-made a freighting discovery at a local park, and it could be putting kids in danger.

Piles of trash, drug paraphernalia, even used needles tossed on the grounds of South Kitsap Regional Park. It’s a large, beautiful park with lots of fields and trails, and at first look it’s very clean – but the danger’s are just steps off the beaten path.

David Rosser said he’s tired of people trashing his favorite park.

“They take two steps back into the woods and that’s where they do their business,” he said.

The trails are packed with families and children, and in minutes Rosser found a bag of drugs.

“It’s full of weed,” he said. “It’s a drop in the bucket is what it is. We stumbled across it in ten minutes walking down this trail.”

But it’s the used needles and broken bottles that Rosser believes could be most dangerous.

“The kids run off on a side trail and fall down an embankment into a pile of broken glass, dirty needles that are stuck in trees and God knows what else,” he said.



Kay Larochelle’s family walks the trails all the time, but she had no idea of the hazards hiding in the brush.

“I have children, that’s pretty awful,” she said, “I wouldn’t want them to fall and have them hand something like that to me.”

Rosser said he also found evidence of illegal campfires that could be dangerous considering the high fire danger.

The Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office said they patrol county parks day and night with both uniformed and undercover officers.

Deputy Scott Wilson said anyone who finds a needle should leave the dangerous work for the professionals.

“Let us come and deal with it, or the health department,” said Wilson.

Deputies have only responded to a handful of alcohol, drugs, and needle issues at South Kitsap Regional Park since the beginning of May.

They urge anyone witnessing suspicious activity inside any Kitsap County park to call 911.