A possible temporary closure of the Pillsbury Crossing Wildlife Area is under consideration by the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism.
Department staff have received concerns over high numbers of visitors, illegal activities and complaints from area residents. The 59-acre area, which sits on Deep Creek, seven miles southeast of Manhattan was donated to the department in 1967 and for more than 50-years has provided day-use visitors with public access to one of the most scenic areas in the northern Flint Hills region.
It’s also become a hot spot for non-permitted activities on the premises, including alcohol consumption, off-road vehicle use, trespassing and other public disturbance-related issues. The department says a recent uptick in visitation has also led to traffic congestion and overflow parking issues, which hinders traffic and the ability of first responders to quickly access the area in an emergency.
Public Lands Director Stuart Schrag said Tuesday in a news release “This is a scenic area that was intended to be a peaceful spot for families to enjoy, but crowds are getting larger and alcohol-related issues are becoming common occurrences. While our law enforcement staff continue to manage the area to the best of their abilities, Pillsbury Crossing may very well be closed if visitors continue to disregard posted notices and area regulations.”
The area is open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
