By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
As stay-at-home orders shrink our worlds, wide open spaces seem particularly precious right now. Local parks are remaining open to give patrons a place to roam.
“It’s an escape,” Wood County Park District Director Neil Munger said Wednesday. “It’s an outlet for people to get out of the house, exercise and enjoy nature.”
Kristin Otley, director of Bowling Green Parks and Recreation, sees it the same way.
“They are one of the last vestiges of where people can go right now,” Otley said.
Wood County’s 19 parks, and Bowling Green’s 11 parks should be even more treasured since the state came close to shutting down public parks as part of the stay-at-home order, Munger and Otley said.
Both were relieved that Gov. Mike DeWine opted to keep parks open when some other states have decided to shut them down.
“Our hope is the governor doesn’t take any steps to close parks,” Munger said.
“We really, really, really want to keep the parks open,” Otley said.
But continued access to parks may rest with the public’s willingness to not abuse the social-distancing orders. And that may get more difficult when the weather warms up.
“We haven’t had consistently good weather,” Otley said. Yet some parks are already filling up with people looking for a slice of solitude.
“We’ve seen a lot of people in the parks,” Munger said. The county parks initially reduced policing of the parks, believing people wouldn’t be venturing out. But the park district quickly found that wasn’t the case.
“The parks are busier than they have ever been,” Munger said.
Many county park visitors are wearing masks, and complying with social distancing orders.
“We’re finding people are acting responsibly,” Munger said. “They need to get out and relax, and escape.”
“Unless the governor says to shut down the parks, we don’t intend to,” he said.
Some cities have taken action on their own to close parks. Bowling Green officials are keeping an eye on park usage, to make sure people are maintaining social distance and not holding gatherings.
“It’s definitely something we are monitoring,” Otley said.
Both the city and county park departments have canceled programming and closed up playgrounds.
The city had started discussing the need to close playgrounds, “then he made the decision for us,” Otley said of Gov. Mike DeWine.
The city has shuttered its community center, suspended building reservations, plus closed the Wintergarden Nature Center, skatepark, inline rink, horseshoe pits, ball diamonds, and basketball courts.
Maintenance crews have had to ask a few kids to leave the skate park, Otley said.
Shelter houses should not be used, since gatherings are banned for the time being. “We don’t want to put caution tape around them,” but just hope that people don’t congregate in them, she said.
Otley is quick to point out that the “great outdoors” remains open for all.
The city park department is reminding people that there are almost 400 acres of parkland in the city – with a park within 1.5 miles of every resident. Otley has some concerns about the safety of residents walking on the narrow trails in Wintergarden Park.
Trails are still open, but park patrons are asked to:
- Avoid crowds.
- Keep a 6 foot distance between other park users.
- Step off the trail to allow distance.
- When passing, call out, “On your left” to notify those on the trail in front of you.
She suggested park patrons use common sense.
“If you try to go to a park and you see the parking lot is overflowing, then maybe choose another park” or return at a different time, she said.
“We have to ensure people are safe,” Otley said.
But, she is well aware that the great outdoors offers a cure for some problems. “Their mental wellness is important, too.”
