King letter: Follow park rules

Boise is blessed by our beautiful parks and green spaces. My favorite is Kathryn Albertson, where one may enjoy peace and quiet while walking the paths and grassy areas, surrounded by verdancy and citified wildlife. Clearly posted at the entrance, next to the map and some amazing photos, are park rules, yet I see them ignored regularly. I have told adolescents to not chase geese and rabbits, even when adult companions ignore such behavior. I have told others to not pitch hammocks in the natural areas or toss a fishing line into a pond. I don’t do so because I am a self-styled park cop, but because I understand we humans are guests. March 13 I saw that all of the lovely daffodils just to the north of the entrance were gone, though they were there the day before. Deer and rabbits don’t usually eat these spring harbingers, so apparently someone decided they would look better in a vase rather than where they were planted. Not only is cutting the flowers detrimental to the bulb, it is taking something that is not yours to take. How sad for us the little respect some have for our wonderful parks.

This story was originally published March 30, 2016 at 6:32 PM with the headline "King letter: Follow park rules."