Citation Authority for Park Rangers?

Question:

With parks on the path to opening I myself, a field staff employee, have noticed that guests have had the worst behavior I have ever seen. Is there any update on training park rangers for citation authority?

Answer:

First, I think it’s important to recognize that people in general are dealing with a lot of change and uncertainty. The issues we are facing related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) tend to generate opposing viewpoints, whether they think people should remain self-isolated, or that we all should go back to “normal”. That said, we collectively need to be patient and understand that each visitor to our park may show their feelings in different ways. Sometimes, this translates into not wanting to follow the rules or respect staff. Now, more than ever, we need to find ways to earn respect and seek voluntary compliance. I understand that there are some interactions with guests that require stronger enforcement options.

We, RivCoParks, are still seeking to update Ordinance 328 and utilize the citation authority it provides. This is taking longer than we anticipated, but still in progress. At this point, we expect to have updates ready for the Board to consider by the end of the year. Until then, continue to do your part to educate and communicate with guests and as restrictions become more relaxed, hopefully our guests will too.