Information sought on vandalism in Hot Springs State Park

In recognition of the 2016 centennial for The Swinging Bridge in Hot Springs State Park, lights were placed along the bridge to provide a new look for this icon of the park and town.

In recent weeks, however, the bridge has not been lit as it should as people have been stealing the bulbs and cutting wires. State Park Assistant Superintendent John Fish said there have been two incidents he knows of where the lights have been vandalized.

About 50 bulbs were taken each time, Fish said, noting these are not simple bulbs that can be picked up anywhere but rather LEDs that have to be specially ordered. It’s not just the lights on the bridge being tampered with either, as Fish added one of the pool concessionaires has also had its lights cut. Also, outlet covers have been removed from the Smoking Waters shelter.

The park hasn’t had much vandalism in previous years, Fish said, with only some graffiti and people driving across the grass, but this year it’s definitely up. Other incidents include the theft of the registration notebook and it’s protective box from the top of Monument Hill, and attempts to rip off the fish feeders near the cooling ponds. Even near the Big Spring, there are signs people have been taking a knife or hatchet to the trees. Fish stressed theses are not simple cuts in the bark but deep gouges.

What’s also troubling to Fish is that these incidents are in areas of high visibility, but nobody is seeing them and reporting them. He said even a vehicle description or, hopefully, a license plate would be beneficial. Local law enforcement has been notified of what’s happening.

Other instances of vandalism in the park include people walking, climbing or diving off the terraces — though there are signs stating not to — as this destroys the natural formations. Litter continues to be an issue as well, and Fish said every state vehicle has a bucket on it specifically for litter collection, and there are a couple people out doing litter and trash pick up every day.

The park has trash cans that have to be emptied every day, Fish said, but there are also people who just don’t care and will throw their trash anywhere.

There are several full-time employees and volunteers for the main park, as well as the bath house and Legend Rock Petroglyph Site. Fish noted they are always looking for volunteers to help out, particularly to help open Legend Rock on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and provide a break to the couple camped there that regularly opens the site. Volunteers can also take care of flowerbeds or even possibly work at the bath house.

“We’ve always got something,” Fish said, and the park still has a busy summer to look forward to with reunion weekend, summer concerts and the Gift of the Waters Pageant and Big Horn Basin Folk Festival. In addition to the regular annual events, the park averages about 30 reunions, 20 regular picnics, six weddings, three celebration of life services and six Scout camps every year.

Though there’s been plenty of construction at the park entrance, Fish said it hasn’t been a deterrent. People are still finding their way to the park and the hotels there are keeping full. The main entrance still has some work left, such as curb and gutter and putting asphalt down, so a couple road closings are still coming. Other upcoming projects in the park include paving east from the cattle guard on East River Road to, and a new heating and cooling system in the bath house.