DENVER (KDVR) — State park rangers announced Friday night that they are closing Cherry Creek State Park overnight after a rise in law enforcement concerns and vandalism.
The park will no longer be open to visitors between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., the Cherry Creek State Park Rangers said on social media.
Only campers will be allowed in the park as visitors overnight, the state park rangers said. Campers will also need to be prepared to show camping reservations to enter the park.
“Thank you for understanding. The safety of our visitors and community is our number one priority,” the state park rangers said on Facebook.
Backlash about the new rules was quick to come in the comments, with many asking what that means for overnight fishing or early morning boat launches.
“If you are here before 10 p.m., we will not ask you to leave,” the park’s page responded to one comment. “Please send an email about your concerns. We really want to work thru this and keep EVERY safe.”
The rangers told commenters that after a few weeks, the situation will be re-evaluated.
“We don’t want to take this opportunity away from our fishing community,” the state park page responded to a separate commenter. “I’m happy to meet with the fishing community to discuss. Please email us.”
The park’s page also shared that if a park ranger cannot be reached when criminal activity is witnessed, recreationists can also call the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency number at 303-795-4711.
The park is asking that any questions or concerns be emailed to [email protected].
Anthony Sutton is a business strategist and writer with a passion for management, leadership, and entrepreneurship. With years of experience in the corporate world, he shares insights on business growth, strategy, and innovation through management-opleiding.org.
