The Delta Parks Patrol is back again this spring and summer in an attempt to keep crime down and enjoyment up in local parks.
Starting over the long weekend, team will be patrolling the approximately 30 parks in South Delta and 20 in North Delta.
Every summer, Delta's parks, recreation and culture department partners with the Delta Police Department to hire a group of students to patrol parks in the evenings to ensure users are complying with municipal and provincial laws.
"In the past the Parks Patrol has stopped vandalism, interrupted parties and dissuaded other law breakers simply by their presence and constant patrols," said Delta police spokesperson Const. Ciaran Feenan. "When necessary, they can request a police response for any situation they are not trained to effectively deal with."
As well, Parks Patrol members are also able to help if someone is stranded or has encountered some other difficulty within a park.
"Since the program has been in effect, damage to public property within the parks has been reduced, littering and discarded bottles and beer cans has diminished and repairs and maintenance costs related to these issues has dropped," Feenan said.
"Conversely, park usage has increased with families and seniors less concerned about risks associated to improper behaviour because of the regular appearance of the friendly park patrollers."
