Volunteers sought to help rein in rule breakers at Sunset Park

By Jackie Valley

Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016 | 2 a.m.

No littering.

No feeding the ducks.

No letting dogs off their leashes.

These are some of the rules at Sunset Park that visitors tend to break, but soon they'll be receiving a reminder if caught doing so.

Clark County is seeking volunteers for its new Sunset Stewards program, which officials hope will improve visitors' experience at the 323-acre park and diffuse problems before they balloon into something larger. The volunteers will patrol the park for at least four hours each month, keeping an eye out for any inappropriate or prohibited behavior.

For instance, if you're caught throwing bits of bread to a pack of quacking ducks, a Sunset Steward will ask you to stop and explain why it's necessary. (Hint: It can cause malnutrition. "It's especially harmful if a duck or goose is raised on nothing but white bread," said Crystalaura Jackson, a recreation cultural specialist.)

The volunteers, who must be 18 years or older, will undergo background checks and be trained how to interact with park visitors in a non-confrontational manner, officials said. Wearing a volunteer vest and badge, the Sunset Stewards may snap cell phone photos of graffiti or vandalism and pick up litter along their walks.

"There's just so many different uses in the park," Jackson said, citing the need for volunteers. "It's so heavily visited. Officers can't be there every single moment."

The Clark County Wetlands Park already has a similar volunteer program. Officials have begun accepting applications for the Sunset Stewards program, which will launch soon.

Clark County Parks and Recreation developed the new program with input from a variety of other entities. For more information, call the parks and recreation department at 702-455-8200 or email [email protected].