Connelly Park to reduce hours after vandalism, crimes

"It just breaks your heart. How could someone target a space that is meant for public enjoyment, especially for service members and their families?" 

Moses Lake Irrigation and Rehabilitation District Executive General Manager Sam Castro  

MOSES LAKE — Connelly Park, a popular recreational area managed by the Moses Lake Irrigation and Rehabilitation District, will reduce its hours and close on Sundays and Mondays amid rising incidents of vandalism and violence.  

Executive General Manager Sam Castro announced the changes in a recent interview, shedding light on the park’s challenges and the need for community understanding and support. 

“We had kept the park open seven days a week, 16 hours a day, and that's a big ask,” Castro said. “We only have one field operations personnel, and so we're very dependent on express or part-time help. This year, unfortunately for us, we saw, and we were victims of what is occurring in our county. So, we're seeing a lot more vandalism. We're noticing a large gang increase.” 

For nearly 60 years, Connelly Park has served as a cherished gathering space for military personnel and local families, originally established as "Airman’s Beach" to honor service members. Over the decades, the park has drawn thousands of visitors annually for its picturesque setting and recreational opportunities, including fishing and community events, Castro said.  

However, recent months have seen an unsettling rise in criminal activities within the park, prompting the MLIRD to take decisive action. Castro explained that the district had faced numerous challenges, including theft of essential equipment, vandalism and increased gang activity.  

"Unfortunately, we are experiencing a significant change in the type of people that are utilizing the park," Castro said.  

He emphasized the need for the community to understand that these decisions are made with the safety of all visitors in mind. 

To address safety concerns, the district will now restrict access to the park on Sundays and Mondays.  

“Historically, we opened from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., but given the current threats to staff and visitors, we are now closing at 8 p.m. and we won’t open until 5:30 a.m.,” Castro said.  

The park will continue to be open Tuesday through Saturday, but the operators recognize the inherent challenges in keeping the space safe and functional. 

The decision to reduce hours and restrict access was not made lightly.  

According to Castro, various instances of theft and vandalism have escalated recently, including the theft of copper wiring, copper fittings from the fire hydrant and the theft of the three brass plaques. Even sink fixtures have been removed from restrooms. 

“They cut the plagues out of the rocks that they were laid in,” Castro said. “They stole the Airman's Beach plaque, the dedication to Clint Connelly plaque and Rotary Club plaque.”  

Along with the theft, Castro described various incidents of vandalism, with both spray paint and with people shooting holes into signs around the park.  

"It just breaks your heart," he said. “How could someone target a space that is meant for public enjoyment, especially for service members and their families?" 

Among the alarming incidents that led to these changes was the reported presence of individuals carrying firearms in the park.  

“We want our community to feel safe and secure while using the park,” he said. “The threats our team has faced have forced us to rethink our approach. We can no longer guarantee safety when incidents such as these are occurring.” 

Residents also reported feeling unsafe, which has influenced staff's ability to maintain the park’s operational hours.  

"Our staff members have been threatened," Castro said. "Some have even witnessed gang members displaying weapons. It is paramount for us to ensure that our visitors can enjoy the recreation area without fear." 

There has also been a significant increase of alcohol present within the park, which is not allowed. 

“When our staff are picking up garbage on Saturday and Sunday, if we were in a recycling business, we'd probably get rich – from aluminum cans and beer bottles,” Castro said. “But we do not support that kind of behavior because it triggers things that are out of our control. And also, it's a family friendly place, so it's supposed to be safe for kids.” 

Amid these challenges, Castro noted that it remains critical for community members to actively report any suspicious activities.  

“We urge the public to be vigilant. If you see something, say something. Our staff members are not trained to handle conflicts, and we rely heavily on law enforcement to respond effectively,” he said. 

Castro said that if people see inappropriate behavior on the grounds, they should call 911 if it’s an emergency or call MLIRD at 509-765-8716 to report the incident anonymously. 

“It takes a full community to fix this problem,” Castro said. “We can’t be out there all day and so we need the community to help us report the problems that are occurring, too.”  

The MLIRD has also been working closely with local law enforcement to mitigate these rising threats. 

Grant County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Kyle Foreman said GCSO has had 40 calls to Connelly Park from 2024-2025. 

“Those are just all different varieties of different calls on here for disturbances, neglect, traffic problems, verbal disturbance, firearm offenses and others,” Foreman said.  

Despite the troubling developments, the district continues to pursue additional funding to improve the park and its facilities. Castro said they are working on getting additional funding to make the park more accessible for those with disabilities, with hopes to add a wheelchair accessible fishing dock.  

“We want to position Connelly Park as a safe, welcoming space once again. Our community deserves it,” he said. 

The MLIRD encourages the public to visit the park during its open hours, and Castro remains optimistic about the future. Plans for community events, such as fishing tournaments and family-friendly gatherings, continue to be on the horizon as the district works to improve conditions. 

Connelly Park 

Tuesday - Thursday 

5:30 a.m. - 8 p.m. 

6671 McConihe Road NE  

Rural Moses Lake 

Report any issues at the park to 911 or the Moses Lake Irrigation and Rehabilitation District at 509-765-8716.  

Upcoming events: 

Aug. 17  

Nonprofit Fundraiser for the Sick and Needy 

Sept. 19-21 

Vintage Test and Tune for Hydroplanes 

Oct. 11-12 

Bass Tournament 

    The Moses Lake Irrigation and Rehabilitation District is the steward of Connelly Park and after several incidents they have decided to reduce hours. From left to right is Admin Assistant Taylor Drew, Executive General Manager Sam Castro, President of the Board Richard Teals and Executive Assistant Beth Yonko.  

    Around April, when Connelly Park was reopening for the season, staff noticed that the copper fittings out of the bottom of the fire hydrant were stolen. Along with the hydrant, the pump station was also vandalized and had several key components taken from the building.  

    Connelly Park will have reduced hours in the near future after several safety and rule violations have occurred this year.  

    Connelly Park is located at 6671 McConihe Rd NE in rural Moses Lake. The park will be open Tuesday through Saturday from 5:30 a.m. until 8 p.m.  

    The women's restroom sink at Connelly Park is missing after someone stole it. This has been an ongoing issue, according to Moses Lake Irrigation and Rehabilitation District Executive General Manager Sam Castro.  

    Connelly Park is often used by residents who enjoy watersports including boating, swimming and paddleboarding. The park has one dock for boaters.  

    One person takes a dip at Airmen’s Beach at Connelly Park. There used to be a bronze plaque by the beach, however, it along with two other bronze plaques have been stolen.