City of Richland Announces the Reopening of Two Parks After Extensive Cleanup and Safety Improvements

​The City of Richland is pleased to announce the reopening of Columbia Park West and Wye Park after being temporarily closed for necessary repairs and improvements. The closures were initially prompted by significant vandalism, destruction of natural resources, human-caused fires, illegal drug use, and other unsafe conditions that compromised the safety of park visitors and the preservation of the natural environment. 
 
Effective Saturday, March 15, 2025, the parks will again be opened to the public. The City is committed to providing safe recreational amenities for the community and protecting the natural resources that make these parks valuable to all who enjoy them. 
 
During the closure, the City undertook extensive efforts to restore and protect the parks. This included: 

• A multi-phased thorough cleanup of the parks. 
• Removal of excessive garbage and hazardous materials, including drug paraphernalia. 
• Permitting for vegetation management
• Vegetation Management including the removal of lower-lying Russian Olive trees between December and January. 
• Collaboration with Benton County Human Services to better address the needs of unhoused individuals in the parks. 

Efforts were also made to maintain access to Bateman Island and select parking areas, allowing the public to continue enjoying certain park features throughout the closure. 
 
To keep the parks safe and well-maintained moving forward, the City has made several operational adjustments: 

• Increased patrols by both park rangers and the Richland Police Department (RPD). 
• Reallocation of park ranger duties to support volunteer projects, special events, and increased patrol efforts. 
• Operational adjustments that include additional park staff to assist park rangers when needed. 
• Additional site modifications to reduce low-visibility areas along the shoreline, with further improvements to be considered if future conditions require them. 

 
These measures are designed to ensure the long-term safety of park visitors, protect the parks' natural assets, and improve community engagement. 
 
“On October 25, 2024, the temporary closure of Columbia Park West and Wye Park was an unfortunate but necessary decision to restore and protect these valuable community spaces. The City of Richland remains committed to providing safe and enjoyable recreational opportunities,” states Joe Schiessl, Deputy City Manager. “We understand the importance of these parks to our residents and are pleased to welcome the community back. We thank our residents for their patience and understanding during this time.” 
 
Citizens can report any concerns or maintenance needs through the City’s service request system www.ci.richland.wa.us/servicerequest. For more information, please visit www.richlandparksandrec.com/WyePark.