Teresa Bailey, a seasonal park ranger, in front of Lakeside Park. EMMA ROUTELY/PHOTO
COTTAGE GROVE — As the remainder of the hot summer days lie before us, going to a local park for swimming and day camping is a great way to pass time during a pandemic. The park rangers who maintain these parks for us to use have important reminders on how to use the parks safely and responsibly during this time.
Christie Johnson has been a park ranger for 25 years. She said she began her career in California, but was excited to move to Oregon when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers offered her a job. The Corps manages the Willamette Valley Project and at the Cottage Grove office, rangers range out to 13 different lakes.
“It’s really beautiful, so green and all the lakes. I really enjoyed the opportunity to have a job where I get to work outdoors and I really like working with people,” Johnson said.
This season, COVID-19 has affected more than just the functionality of the parks. At first, Johnson said it was harder to fill their seasonal staff due to travel restrictions. This season, 12 park rangers cover day and night shifts, with extra staff on the weekends.
At the start of the pandemic, Johnson said the Corps were wrapping up on opening the parks. Most of the parks are open seasonally, opening the second week of May and closing the second week of September. The parks managed by the Corps opened alongside the State Parks under “different conditions than normal.”
Life jackets made available near the boat dock at Lakeside Park to prevent water accidents.
The rangers also encourage people to recreate locally and with people in their own household. When gathering in large groups use face coverings even outdoors if you have to be close to others.
“I don’t want campers to get in conflict with other campers or visitors. I would encourage people to make their own distance,” Johnson said. “If somebody is too close to them, they should get up and move.”
Although the parks are usually busy in August, Johnson said that most families are recreating closer to home instead of taking the traditional long summer trip. In order to ensure the safe passage of an emergency vehicle at a moment’s notice, cars must park in the legal designated spots.
“If the parking lot is full, then the park is full,” Johnson said. “Every park has a carrying capacity based on the amount of restrooms, services available, and once it’s full people have trouble social distancing.”
With overcrowding, the trash cans get overfilled and start spilling out. Although there is a regular janitorial service, packing your own garbage is one way to help keep parks clean during the pandemic.
Additionally, there has been an increase in water accidents this summer. Johnson stresses the importance of water safety and always wearing a life jacket. She said they also discourage people from jumping off dams or swimming anywhere immediately above or below the dams.
“Wearing a life jacket is the most critical thing,” Johnson said. “There are statistics that show the majority of people that die in water accidents are not wearing a life jacket. Something like 89%.”
Looking to the future, Johnson said the Corps will continue forward with their usual schedule and close the parks for the season in mid-September.
“Hopefully by next spring when we reopen the parks the pandemic will be under control.”
