Auburn mom finds used syringes in park: 'We need to protect our children,' she pleads



AUBURN, Wash. -- Some local parents are concerned about their kids safety after finding used needles in the neighborhood park. Parents say the park is becoming a haven for the homeless and drugs.

Les Gove Park closes at 9 p.m., but there’s no gate so its completely wide open and anyone can just walk in. Despite the cameras overhead, some parents say the problem is just getting worse and worse

“You can get HIV, hepatitis anything from this,” Auburn mom Amanda Wolf said holding up a plastic bag with a used needle inside.

Wolf says she’s found dozens of used needles inside Les Gove park. She said one she found a couple weeks ago was just finger deep in a sandbox.

“Kids should be able to go outside and play, but when you're finding these all over your front yard, your backyard,” Wolf said, "it makes you fear what your daughter could come down with if she does get stabbed.”

Amanda’s neighbor Yvonne Cain limits her twins' time at their favorite park.

“There's a lot of drug activity, there's a lot of homeless people running around here,” Cain explained Thursday. “I don't think it's safe for nobody's kids to be out here unsupervised.”

These moms say the increase in vagrants and paraphernalia is a recent problem, one they say is being overlooked.

“I've called cops constantly trying to get them out here, trying to get the homeless people away because that's where this is coming from,” Wolf added.

Amanda says the problem today is extending from the park and landing on her front door.

“I have a bottle of urine at my home that someone left in my front yard and my daughter, not knowing what it is, could pick it up thinking it’s apple juice,” Wolf said. “I do understand they're (the police) doing everything they can and within their powers but something more needs to be done. We need to protect our children.”

We left a message with the Auburn Parks Department and the police and didn’t hear back. We will follow up to find out about their plan for cleaning up these parks.