Park Ranger Program
The Park Ranger provides customer service to park visitors to ensure a safe, welcoming, and positive experience while using Kirkland’s parks, waterfronts, and green spaces. The Park Ranger works in collaboration with Kirkland Parks Management, King County Marine Rescue Dive Unit, and the Kirkland Police Department.
As an ambassador for Parks and Community Services and the City of Kirkland, the Park Ranger provides the following services:
- Provides information about available services, parks, and special events
- Enhances public safety and security in parks by monitoring high-use sites
- Responds to calls for service
- Educates, warns, enforces, and issues tickets for non-compliance with park rules
- Responds to emergency situations throughout the park system
- Conducts park walkthroughs and inspections for environmental dumping, defacement, encroachments, homeless encampments, areas showing signs of illicit behavior, or unsafe conditions
Marina
As a regular presence on the Marina docks, our Park Ranger assists boaters in understanding the park rules and ensuring they are safe and compliant. The Park Ranger also assists King County Marine Rescue Dive Unit in responding to sinking and damaged boats, environmental spills, and other safety issues.
Working with Kirkland Police Department
The Park Ranger collaborates with and supports the Kirkland Police Department and the Animal Control Officer to help deter non-compliant activity, enforce leash and pet waste laws, pet licensing requirements, and general safety and usability of our parks.
Off-Leash Enforcement
One area of emphasis for the Park Ranger is off-leash enforcement. All pets within the City limits are required to be on a leash (as defined in KMC 8.09.120) with the exception of areas that have been designated by the City as “off-leash” areas. For more information on leash laws, see KMC 8.09.500. Off-leash violations start at $25 and double with each additional infraction issued to a pet owner. There are two permanent off-leash areas in Kirkland: Jasper’s Dog Park and Edith Moulton Dog Park, along with several other pop-up off-leash dog parks. Pets are not allowed in any community garden areas. Pets are never allowed in designated swimming areas like Houghton Beach Park, Waverly Beach Park, or Juanita Beach Park. See our park rules about animals for more information.
Whether it’s animals in the park, environmental hazards, assisting parkgoers or keeping a watchful eye, the Park Ranger program is an essential element to the safe and friendly operations of our park system.