Editorial: WSU forest needs to be made safer for community

Something needs to be done about the Washington State University Demonstration Forest. Vandals and squatters have moved in while officials negotiate whether to develop it with houses or save it as park space. The fire department believes an arsonist burned one of the vacant buildings on the property earlier this month. If this had happened during the summer, it might have ignited the whole forest.

People have reported unsavory characters hanging out at the movie theater and then disappearing into the forest where they can’t easily be reached. And what Bonney Lake Mayor Neil Johnson fears the most is finding a body in the wooded area. He would like to see the area re-opened up to the public. Having more people use the forest for recreational purposes would help drive out the riffraff that’s congregating there. There were small infractions in the past, but mostly the public created a self-policing atmosphere.

If WSU officials refuse to open the forest to the public, they very least they can do is gate the area. As long as they own the forest in Bonney Lake, they have a responsibility to the community and ensuring public safety.