No Trespassing Signs At A Sacramento Public Park?

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — It's supposed to be a serene setting in Sacramento, but one public park has become such a problem spot the parks and recreation department now wants to post no trespassing signs.

Tucked inside Sacramento's borders, along Arcade Creek, Del Paso Regional Park's historic natural habitat is becoming a nuisance hotspot for people who live nearby.

"It's just stuff that shouldn't be going on," Kennen Van Wagenen said. "It is a place that families come."

Neighbors have put up surveillance cameras to ward off the activity mostly hidden by tall trees and thick brush.

Complaints range from drug use, to homeless camps, to public sex by men meeting up using a dating website.

"I know for years and years we've tried to get that place cleaned up but it's just been a big problem," Van Wagenen said.

Now Sacramento Parks and Recreation staff are proposing posting no trespassing signs in the park's designated natural habitat areas.

The move would give park rangers a new tool to remove people from this public place.

The proposed no trespassing posts would not cover park trails.

Equestrian Yolanda Jones says riding here has led to some disturbing discoveries.

"It's kind of embarrassing sometimes we have to ask people 'Are you decent?'" Jones said.

Still, she's not sold on the no trespassing proposal.

"It is public land so I'm kind of in between there," Jones said.

The Parks and Rec department has carved out exceptions.

Science and education projects would still be allowed, along with volunteer cleanup of the habitat.

But the no trespassing signs would be posted, creating a new way to police this public park.