A New Park To Patrol

On Friday August 14, 2015 Columbus and Franklin County opened its newest park, Rocky Fork Metro Park.  While only one section of this approximately 1000 acre park is open, it provides approximately 3 miles of trail 2 of which are available for you to walk your dog.  There is even a .3 mile trail designated as an off leash trail.  The paved multipurpose trail is bike, skateboard, leashed pet friendly, There are two shelters, one large and one small, as well as several grills and picnic tables scattered throughout the park.  Of course, a playground for the young ones.  The dog park, complete with large and small dog areas and splash pad will not be open until spring of 2016.  While it appears to be completed, fencing is not quite done and the grass needs more time to establish a strong root system in order to prevent problems in the future.

Here is an interview from the Columbus Dispatch with Park Manger D. Bissonette.   And another from 10TV with Metro Parks Director Tim Moloney.  Naturalist Andrea Krava does a nice job of giving a nice overview of the park with New Albany News

Never Off Duty

Two Metro Park Rangers on vacation out of state witnessed a one car vehicle accident as they were traveling on a county road.  They watched as a new Jeep Grand Cherokee, about 100 yards in front of them,  drive into the oncoming lane then turn sharply back into the proper lane, only to continue off the roadway and disappear into the woods.

Upon arriving on the scene they realized the car had disappeared because it had driven down a 10 foot embankment and was now at rest in a small creek.  One Ranger got on the phone to 911 while running to the next house to get an address.  The second Ranger went to check on the driver, an elderly woman who was conscious, coherent and uninjured. The Jeep was up to the bottom of the doors in water and was not going to be able to be driven out.  The Ranger kept the victim calm while waiting for the rescue crew.  Once the county Sheriff Deputy arrived on scene, the Ranger and the Deputy assisted the victim through her sunroof, down the windshield and hood, on to dry land.

The victim said that she was trying to shoo a bee out her window and went into the oncoming lane, then over corrected.  She managed to come out of the accident without a scratch.   Rangers stated they weren't sure how long she would have been there if they had not witnessed the accident.  Her vehicle was 10 feet lower than the road and obscured from view by dense vegetation, making it unlikely for her to have been seen by passing motorists. The victim was thankful the Rangers were behind her and stopped to help, giving them big hugs when she made it to dry land.

Turns out, the victim is good friends with family with whom the Rangers were visiting. It can be a small world when you are never "off duty".