In fact, Wilsonville’s Memorial Park was named as one of 50 of the best walks in the region by METRO in its new book, “Walk There!” The book details a variety of venues where we can get out of our cars and see the beauty of nature, riverfront vistas and downtown areas that make up the Portland-Vancouver area.

But maintaining good parks also takes effort. City public works staff is diligent at keeping lawns mowed, weeds controlled, bathrooms cleaned and litter picked up. Those efforts make a big difference in how a park looks and is enjoyed by visitors.

Yet more can be done. Park visitors must play an important role in keeping a park beautiful and healthy. Visitors must understand that park rules are there to keep visitors safe and provide equal opportunity for all to enjoy what the park offers.

A recent case in point is the use of “scoop bags” by children at Murase Plaza as water balloons. The scoop bags are put there for dog owners to take care of their animals and to keep the park clean. The city does not have to provide these bags, but does so as a courtesy to dog owners. Parents should keep a careful eye on their children who are playing at the park. Children should use the equipment the way it is meant to be used.

Curiosity and playfulness often get the better of a child’s judgment. If a bag is sitting there, and water is nearby, it seems only natural to a child’s mind to create something like a water balloon. But using bags in this way not only means fewer bags for dog owners, the bags also can clog up the drains at the water fountains.

This would be unfortunate. The water fountain at Murase Plaza has become a favorite spot for hundreds of area children looking for a way to cool off on a hot summer day.

All it takes is a little more vigilance by parents attending to the actions of their children.

Park visitors also must take care to notice any damage or graffiti being done to park furniture and bathrooms. Over the past few months, there have been reports of damage to benches and tables, costing the city – and taxpayers – hundreds of dollars in repairs. There also have been reports of graffiti written on the bathroom walls. While the graffiti may be cleaned up, it still takes someone time and effort to do it.

We call on Wilsonville citizens to be responsible in reporting vandalism in the parks, as well as considering their actions if they feel inclined to cause damage to city property.