City parks are supposed to be places of relaxation, beauty and retreat. In Saco, Cascade Falls Park has long been that sort of place, drawing nature lovers to the sparkling waterfall for a picnic or short hike. Long enjoyed under various ownership over the generations, the site officially became a city park when Saco acquired the waterfall and surrounding acreage in a 2008 contract zone agreement with developer Elliot Chamberlain. A plan for trail improvement at the site has been created, with one loop trail now complete for hikers to safely traverse.

Unfortunately, in recent months, the park has apparently become a meeting place for men who are interested in engaging in indecent behavior, and we’re glad the Saco Police Department has taken a proactive approach to ending such meet-ups. Chief Bradley Paul said, “If you’ve come there looking for illicit behavior, you’ve come to the wrong place,” and we think he and his department are doing a great job of getting that message out.

Two arrests have been made at the park recently, one for a man allegedly walking around naked and another for a man who allegedly propositioned an officer, grabbing him in the crotch and saying, “Are we doing this?”

We agree with the chief that these behaviors are “wholly inappropriate” for Cascade Falls Park, and now that word is out about the police crackdown on the area, we hope those who are looking for illicit hook-ups will instead find a private place to do it. People who seek to enjoy the natural beauty of this preservation area should not be deterred from visiting it for fear of encountering other “natural wonders” ”“ or worse, being accosted or assaulted.

Parks are susceptible to becoming havens for illegal or illicit behavior, since their trails are often obscured from public view and any forested terrain provides cover for all kinds of activities. With police now patrolling the park more regularly, we’re confident people will find some other place to meet up or engage in behaviors that are not OK to pursue in public.

Police in neighboring towns with secluded parks should see the Saco arrests as an impetus to step up law enforcement there, since those displaced from Saco will undoubtedly be looking for a new location ”“ and it will be important for all towns to make it clear that such behavior is unwelcome there, too.

Although the publicity has been negative, the recent arrests have helped shine a spotlight anew on Cascade Falls Park. Saco Bay Trails, which oversees maintenance of the park alongside the city staff, is in need of more money and more volunteers to realize the goals that have been set out for the park. The trail improvement plan for Cascade Falls Park includes foot bridges over a stream and a viewing platform, as well as an improved path up to the waterfall ”“ with a price tag of about $200,000.

Saco nature lovers with community pride could do their city proud by stepping up to volunteer at the site. The more well-maintained the park is, the more regularly it will be used for recreation by law-abiding hikers, families, tourists, dog owners and all sorts of nature enthusiasts. And once those people have established dominance at the park, it will no longer be seen as a seedy, remote location prime for illicit hook-ups.

Ӣ Ӣ Ӣ

Today’s editorial was written by Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski on behalf of the Journal Tribune Editorial Board. Questions? Comments? Contact Kristen by calling 282-1535, Ext. 322, or via email at [email protected].