A decrease in the number of rangers covering parks in the region in recent years hinders incidents like the one at John Bryan, said Chief Colin Altman, Miami Twp. Fire and Rescue Division.
“(Rangers) have trucks, ATVs, and their knowledge of the park is always helpful,” said Altman.
Currently, three full-time rangers are employed to patrol the three state parks in the Buck Creek region — John Bryan, Madison Lake and Buck Creek, said Virgil Goodwine, regional park manager, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, parks and recreation division.
That’s down from four rangers just five years ago, and the regional parks budget has been chipped away from 1.4 million in 2006 to 1.1 million allocated for 2011, said Goodwine.
But, it was rough terrain and poor radio reception that presented rescuers with difficulties after the accident at John Bryan, he said. More funds or resources wouldn’t have made a difference, Goodwine said.
“We would have had the same difficulty in getting to him,” said Goodwine.
Kevin Fennig, 31, New Bremen, injured his ankle after the fall while hiking in the park Sept. 7. He was treated and released from an area hospital, officials said.
In the wake of budget cuts in recent years, ODNR officials in the region have had to defer maintenance on buildings and cruisers, said Goodwine.
“This has been going on for the last five years and it isn’t getting any better,” he said.
State parks are financed solely by the state’s general revenue fund, said Goodwine.
Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0360 or vlough@coxohio.com.
About the Author