SHAWANO, WI- Enough is enough, that seems to be the feeling for many after a string of recent incidents has lead to shutdowns, closures, and inconveniences for recreation areas in Shawano County.
“People are just acting like wild animals.”
Town of Richmond officials has decided to close the recreation area known as “The Rock” until further notice after the littering has reached an all-time high.
Photo: Courtesy of Town of Richmond
Town Chairman Steve Gueths said they were made aware of the issue at their meeting Monday night.
“They pulled in with a whole pickup bed full of garbage and said that was laying on the ground,” Gueths explained.
Inside, there were boxes, aluminum cans, glass bottles, paper products, and even inflatable tubes.
Photo: Courtesy of Town of Richmond
“There were about half a dozen of those laying in the brush,” Gueths said about the tubes. “This is the worst that it has been in a long time and we decided that enough is enough.”
Gueths said this kind of behavior is happening all over the county.
A similar situation took place recently at Sandy Beach in the Town of Belle Plaine. Town officials closed the location after the littering was out of control.
“People are trashing it and not respecting it. It is getting to the point this year that we are having glass bottles across the river on someone’s private property,” Gueths said. “People just don’t have respect for other’s property. They are just treating it like a trash can.”
Another incident took place this week when a pay station at Haymen Falls in Shawano County was removed.
Photo: Courtesy of Shawano County
According to the Shawano County Parks Department, the pay station was for the rustic campsites and it was taken right out of the ground.
Shawano County Sheriff Adam Bieber said the littering is just half of the problems that they were seeing at the Rock.
“We have had fights, civil disturbances, littering, and it is a spot for real concern.”
Gueths says that is also a big concern for them.
“We had an incident last weekend where there was an individual walking around there who was so high on something, he didn’t even know where he was. They are not using it for what it is meant for.”
Bieber says the way that it is so secluded may lead to bad behavior.
“I have given them some ideas like trimming down the trees so you can see the water area from the top of the hill. “There needs to be more supervision out here because it seems people don’t care.”
He says they support the Town of Richmond’s decisions and said warnings, citations and in some cases, arrests are all tools that they have for trespassing violations.
“The Town of Richmond does not want anyone back there and we are going to assist them with that. I don’t think the Town of Richmond is going to allow any vehicles on this road. They really are strong about no access and shutting it down.”
Members of the community are showing their frustration with the behavior that is going on. Many have expressed their thoughts on the Town of Richmond Facebook page.
“Incredibly sad to see such a unique and beautiful place shut down due to continuous lack of respect. When many local citizens don’t even want to take their families down there anymore, there’s clearly a problem. Resources are limited..if people would just respect public properly and clean up after themselves, this wouldn’t be an issue!”
“Unfortunately people fail to read and respect. Lived next to this place for more than half my life, it’s sad this has come to this. I won’t take my kids there for this exact reason!”
“It is a shame the lack of respect people have for the nice places for the public to use. One of the most beautiful places on the river and few people have to ruin it for everyone!”
“If you can’t use it w/ respect then you shouldn’t be allowed to use it.”
“No respect! The Town of Richmond has put up with this for far to long. Good call!”
People have also offered ideas for other options to keep the location open, but help keep it clean.
“Is it possible to enlist a civic organization to volunteer for clean up in the area and Re open?? Or, what else would have to occur to reverse this decision? I agree it’s horrid, but is there a remedy?”
“Citizens of Shawano County should support a proposal to pay for a full-time park ranger to be on duty and limited access to the site; and charge a fee for entry to anyone who isn’t a local. That way the hooligans who can’t treat natural resources appropriately won’t want to go there.”
Sheriff Bieber says another option is for the Town of Richmond to hire a deputy to patrol that area more often.
Gueths says he hopes it sends a message.
“If they miss it enough, they will behave when we open it back up. Pick up after yourselves, it is simple,” he said. “We will see how it goes and I am hoping to maybe open it in a month or two. We would like to keep it open, but if they are going to treat it like that, we will just close it again. It is going to take a little while for people to realize what is happening.”
Gueths says they do not have a date in place for when it will open, but he says maybe sometime in the fall before hunting season may be an option.
“Treat your public property with respect,” he said. “Until they start respecting it, they won’t have it.”
Click below to listen to comments from Town of Richmond Chairman Steve Gueths.
Click below to listen to comments from Shawano County Sheriff Adam Bieber
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