Point Defiance: Park sentinels play important role

Re: “2 rescued after car goes over park cliff,” (TNT, 9/9).

Recently, Pete Sluka, a founding watch volunteer at Point Defiance Park, was crossing a viewpoint road and witnessed a car lunge over a cliff and disappear below. Sluka called 911; police arrived and delicately rescued the two elderly victims, who are thankfully recovering in a local hospital.

Sluka and more than 50 other volunteers regularly keep an eye on visitors’ activities while enjoying the park themselves. Their role is to remind visitors of rule violations, answer questions and be observant in an effort to enhance safety. This provides park ranger Mary Krauszer extra eyes and ears.

Krauszer meets with this volunteer group once each month to discuss park observational issues that come up. I have attended the meetings and am impressed at the serious commitment. When you see these volunteers with their badges and yellow-green vests, realize they are there for your benefit and are committed to keeping the park safe.

If you enjoy the park and wish to volunteer, call 253-305-1088 and join our committed group.

This story was originally published September 20, 2016 at 11:08 AM with the headline "Point Defiance: Park sentinels play important role."