Politics & Government
How Effective Is the Park Ranger at Children's Pool?
The new park ranger stationed at Children's Pool will educate visitors, keep peace and enforce regulations, but many are questioning how effective he is.
La Jolla resident Dennis Lesley visits the every morning before work. He often carries binoculars, sharing them with visitors who wish to get a closer look at the seals.
“I volunteer down here to help educate tourists and to make sure the seals are safe,” he said. “Many times people will listen if I ask they step back a bit and they're trying to get too close to them during pupping season; other times people will say that I don’t have any authority.”
Lesley is among a group of passionate La Jollans who wish to see peace kept at Children's Pool. Although he's happy that the city of San Diego recently assigned a to help mitigate tensions between pro-beach and pro-seal groups, he questions how effective the ranger's presence actually is.
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“People don't really listen if they don't want to,” he said. “The rope barrier that goes up during pupping season is still just a recommended barrier. It's good that we have someone here who looks official but I'm not sure how much good it does.”
The city hired a park ranger earlier this year. Unfortunately, that ranger only lasted three month before requesting a transfer. Her last day at the controversial beach and seal rookery was April 2. Then just a few weeks ago, the city hired another ranger to keep watch at the Children's Pool.
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Council of Divers Secretary John Leek agrees that the ranger's actual authority is of question.
“When the [former] ranger tried to enforce city permits on the sidewalk a year ago, the clerk at the APRL (Animal Protection & Rescue League) table told him he had no authority and should go away,” Leek said. “As far as the rope, the tried to write citations against a couple of guys last year for crossing it but they were dismissed.”
Members of La Jolla Friends of the Seals (LJFOS) believe that the guidance provided to the ranger by the Parks and Recreation Department is “too vague.”
LJFOS President Ellen Shivley said that Park and Recreation Director Stacey LoMedico has failed to provide him with adequate guidelines as to how people should interact, and not interact, with the seals.
“Signage asks people to be respectful of the seals but no one really knows what that means,” Shivley said. “I'm hopeful the new ranger will try to set some definite guidelines at as far as people interacting with the seals.”
Member Shannon Player said it’s her desire that the new park ranger would keep people off the beach altogether.
“I think people who are in favor of keeping the seals protected are unhappy with the duties and responsibilities of the ranger,” Player said. “I don't feel this person has [the seals'] best interests at heart.”
The city erects a suggested guide rope at the Children’s Pool during the pupping season from Dec. 15 to May 15 each year.
Still, Leek points out that even if the ranger does try to enforce rules, people aren't obligated to listen.
“The has in the body of its permit that it is a requirement that the beach remain open to the public, so [crossing it] has no penalty or legal meaning,” he said. “I think the ranger could do the greatest service by doing what rangers usually do, which is provide information, a smiling face, and be trained to observe.”
The city’s Parks and Recreation Department declined to allow the new park ranger to be interviewed.
