WSU students volunteer to clean trashed park

Washington State University and University of Idaho students have volunteered to help clean up Granite Point after the popular park on the Snake River was trashed April 27.

Law enforcement was called when some 300 to 500 people were partying on the rocky point that stands over a popular swimming area.

Corps staff picked up 800 pounds of trash in the water and in rocky areas of the park after the party, including garbage, broken bottles and beer cans. The debris filled an on-site dumpster and two pickup trucks.

Graffiti also was spray-painted on the rocks in the park above Lower Granite Dam often called "the cliffs."

While the Army Corps of Engineers, which operates the park has not determined a specific group at fault, it knows the park is popular with college students and in the past has provided information on responsible use of the park to students.

Students will be at the closed park Thursday to help clean up broken glass, bottle caps and other remaining trash.

No decision has been made on when the park may reopen.

The Daily Evergreen, the WSU newspaper, said 14 WSU students who ignored the temporary "no trespassing" signs at the park have been issued citations by the Corps.

This story was originally published May 9, 2018 at 6:36 PM with the headline "WSU students volunteer to clean trashed park."