The Bellevue Parks Department is reminding Pokemon Go players to be respectful of construction in Downtown Park after a group broke down a fence on Wednesday.
Around 10 p.m. on Aug. 10, more than 100 people playing Pokemon Go in Downtown Park broke down a fence and entered an area under construction.
A southern portion of Downtown Park is currently under construction for the “complete the circle” project. As a part of the approximately $18 million project, crews are building a promenade, walkway, a grand entrance, a water feature and terraced seating, as well as the Inspiration Playground for disabled children.
“This has happened in this exact spot before, but players would just walk around the fence, which was maybe an extra 50 ft. of walking. This time, people started shaking the fence and pushing it until it fell over. That created a domino effect which resulted in the entire fence coming down. Then there was a mad rush of people stepping on the fence and running down into the area,” one Reddit user told the Reporter.
Though some people tried to put the fence back up, several sections were bent and damaged from the trampling crowd.
A spokesperson for the City of Bellevue’s Parks Department said that they hadn’t received any reports about the broken fence, but that there have been a couple of past instances where players have entered the construction zone. In those cases, the project contractor, Ohno Construction Company, reminded the individuals to stay out of closed areas.
“This is a good reminder that Pokemon Go players need to be mindful of their surroundings and respectful of other park visitors,” Parks Department spokesperson Christina Faine said. “The contractor and city are mindful of maintaining a safe public park. We’ve increased park ranger patrols in the park. Park rangers educate park visitors about park rules and hours.”
While the aforementioned Reddit user said that he’s only seen players get unruly late at night and that they are generally respectful during the daytime, there have been other incidents before dark.
Another Reddit user recounted an incident on Aug. 7 in which Pokemon Go players sprinted through traffic across a street to catch a Pokemon. Cars in the roadway reportedly had to sit and wait for the stream of people — who were not using crosswalks — to cross the street.
“I was embarrassed to be there playing Pokemon Go with them,” the user wrote.
Officers have received several complaints about Pokemon Go players over the last few weeks, including one complaint of players blocking a street in the Old Main neighborhood adjoining Downtown Park.
Shortly after the game launched last month, police received calls of screams in the park after it had closed and found over 100 players running around chasing pokemon.
This latest incident has some rethinking their use of the park.
“My wife and I had a really sick feeling after it happened,” one witness to Wednesday’s incident told the Reporter. “I sincerely hope that pokemon is banned in the park – the influx of people has already ruined the grass. Not to mention the disrespect shown to others using the park to run, bike, play volleyball, Frisbee, etc.”